FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP): A northeastern Indiana lawmaker defeated in May's Republican primary by a social conservative has resigned from her seat to join a medical industry lobbying group.

State Rep. Kathy Heuer of Columbia City announced her resignation Friday to become executive director of the Indiana Medical Device Manufacturing Council.

That group lobbies for its member medical device companies before state and federal lawmakers and regulatory agencies.

The Journal Gazette reports (http://bit.ly/1AHDT2L ) Heuer had served as District 83 representative since 2010, representing parts of Allen and Whitley counties.

She had faced a backlash over her vote that helped keep a gay marriage ban off Indiana's November ballot.

Fort Wayne union autoworker Christopher Judy unseated Heuer in May's GOP primary with help from the tea party.