United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012

The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the nine U.S. Representatives from the state, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election, an election to the U.S. Senate, and a gubernatorial election.

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012[1]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Republican 1,351,760 52.93% 7 +1
Democratic 1,142,554 44.74% 2 -1
Libertarian 59,429 2.33% 0 -
Independents 3 <0.01% 0 -
Totals 2,553,746 100.00% 9 -

Redistricting

A redistricting bill was passed by both houses of the Indiana General Assembly in April 2011[2][3] and signed into law by Governor Mitch Daniels on May 10, 2011. The newly drawn map was designed to produce seven districts which are favorable to the Republican Party and two which favor the Democratic Party. Republicans described the districts as being more compact and more in keeping with existing county boundaries than the previous map,[4] while Democrats argue that the map is intended to protect Republican incumbents and help the Republican Party win the 2nd district.[2]

District 1

Incumbent Democrat Pete Visclosky faced Republican nominee Joel Phelps, an industrial engineer.[5]

The incumbent was expected to remain favorable to Democrats.[2] The district, based in the suburbs and exurbs of Chicago, Illinois, acquired parts of LaPorte County, including Michigan City, in redistricting.[6]

Results
Indiana's 1st Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pete Visclosky 187,743 67.28
Republican Joel Phelps 91,291 32.72
Total votes 279,034 100.00
Democratic hold

District 2

Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly, who has represented the 2nd district since 2007, ran for the U.S. Senate rather than for re-election to the House of Representatives.[7] Brendan Mullen, an Army veteran and military contractor[8] was the Democratic nominee. Former State Representative Jackie Walorski won the Republican nomination for the second consecutive time. Joe Ruiz was the Libertarian nominee.[9] Andrew Straw, an attorney, switched from the Democratic Party to Green Party and ran for this seat.[10][11] Straw was an Indiana Supreme Court analyst and an assistant dean at the Indiana University Maurer School of Law in charge of the International Program.[12]

In June 2012 Andrew Straw submitted a 1-signature petition to the Secretary of State, despite the fact that IC 3-8-6 normally would require small parties and independents to get 3,653 signatures in the 2nd district (2% of the last Secretary of State race's turnout in the district). Straw argued freedom of speech, freedom of association, discrimination on the basis of class (Indiana Constitution, Art. I, section 23), and factual bases for his why his petition should be granted. He also argued that the current Secretary of State's appointment is the last election, and Gov. Daniels' 1 vote is the turnout, making Straw's requirement 0 signatures.[13] Independent U.S. Senate candidate Jack Rooney joined Straw's effort and submitted a similar petition. If Straw and Rooney are successful prior to the July 2 deadline, many others around Indiana could submit such 1-signature petitions from the presidential to county-level elections. The petition was denied in July.

In redistricting, parts of the state which typically favor Republicans, including Elkhart County, Miami County, Wabash County and much of Kosciusko County, were moved into the 2nd district, while Democratic-leaning areas such as Kokomo and part of LaPorte County were removed from the district.[2] Prior to announcing his Senate campaign, Donnelly commented that he was confident that a Democrat would be able to win the district, noting that then-Senator Barack Obama would have received 49% of the vote in the district in the 2008 presidential election had it been held under the newly drawn boundaries.[14]

Results
Indiana's 2nd Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jackie Walorski 134,033 49.01
Democratic Brendan Mullen 130,113 47.58
Libertarian Joe Ruiz 9,326 3.41
Independent Kenneth R. Lunce, Jr. 3 <0.00
Total votes 273,475 100.00
Republican gain from Democratic
External links

District 3

Incumbent Republican Marlin Stutzman ran for re-election and faced Democratic nominee Kevin Boyd, the pastor of Fort Wayne’s Trinity Presbyterian Church.[15]

The 3rd district is expected to remain favorable to Republicans.[2] Among the changes made in redistricting were the removal of Elkhart County from the 4th district to the 2nd, and the addition of areas south of Fort Wayne, which may make Stutzman vulnerable to a primary challenge.[6]

Results
Indiana's 3rd Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marlin Stutzman (inc.) 187,872 67.04
Democratic Kevin Boyd 92,363 32.96
Total votes 280,235 100.00
Republican hold
External links

District 4

Republican incumbent Todd Rokita ran for re-election in 2012. He faced Democratic nominee Tara Nelson, an information technology project manager[16] and Libertarian nominee Benjamin Gehlhausen, an economics and professional flight technology major at Purdue University.[9][17]

Rokita's home lies "about 500 yards" outside the boundaries of the newly drawn 4th district, a phenomenon he attributed in May 2011 to "a kind of comeuppance thing" on the part of members of the Indiana General Assembly in return for his having supported a nonpartisan redistricting process during his tenure as Secretary of State of Indiana. Sue Landske, a Republican member of the Indiana Senate, denied that this was the case.[18] The 4th district is expected to remain favorable to Republicans.[2]

Results
Indiana's 4th Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Rokita 168,688 61.96
Democratic Tara Nelson 93,015 34.16
Libertarian Benjamin Gehlhausen 10,565 3.88
Total votes 272,268 100.00
Republican hold
External links

District 5

Republican incumbent Dan Burton, who had represented the 5th district since 2003 and previously represented the 6th district from 1983, retired rather than seeking re-election in 2012.[19] The Republican nominee was former U.S. Attorney Susan Brooks.[20] She faced Democratic nominee Scott Reske, a State Representative,[21][22] and Libertarian nominee Chard Reid, an economics and finance teacher at Plainfield High School.[9]

Losing Republican candidates include attorney Jack Lugar,[23] John McGoff,[24] David McIntosh (who represented the 6th district from 1995 until 2001),[25] State Senator Mike Delph and Marion Mayor Wayne Sebold.[19]

The 5th district continues to include Hamilton County and the north side of Indianapolis,[26] but will receive Democratic-leaning areas in northern Marion and Madison,[6] and it lost rural areas near Fort Wayne.[26] The district is expected to continue to favor Republicans.[2]

Results
Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Brooks 194,570 58.37
Democratic Scott Reske 125,347 37.60
Libertarian Chard Reid 13,442 4.03
Total votes 333,359 100.00
Republican hold
External links

District 6

Republican incumbent Mike Pence announced in May 2011 that he would run for Governor of Indiana rather than for re-election to the House of Representatives.[27] The Republican nominee in 2012 was Luke Messer, an attorney.[28] The Democratic nominee was Brad Bookout, a Delaware County Councilman.[29] The Libertarian nominee was Rex Bell, owner of a contracting business in the New Castle area.[9]

As of February 3, 2012, five people had filed to run in the May 8, 2012, primary for the Republican House seat nomination: Don Bates, Jr.; Bill Frazier; Travis Hankins; Luke Messer; and Joseph S. Van Wye, Sr.[30] Bates is a financial adviser who unsuccessfully ran for the U.S. Senate in 2010.[31] Frazier is a former state senator.[32] Hankins is a developer who unsuccessfully ran in the 9th district in 2010.[31] Messer is a former state representative and former executive director of the Indiana Republican Party who challenged Dan Burton in the 5th district in 2010.[31] Van Wye describes himself as a part-time service technician and part-time worker for Lifetime Resources.[33]

Other possible candidates are John Hatter, a human resources director at Ivy Tech Community College;[31] Andrew Phipps, a retired educator who unsuccessfully ran for the Indiana Senate in 2002 and 2006;[34] Bartholomew County coroner Allen Smith, who previously appeared on the reality television series The Biggest Loser;[35] and T.J. Thompson, who unsuccessfully challenged Pence in 2010;[31] Nate LaMar, the president of the Henry County Council;[36][37] state senator Jean Lesing;[38] and former U.S. Representative Mike Sodrel.[36] The deadline for filing is February 10, 2012.[39]

Dan Bolling, a biotech entrepreneur from Wayne County; Brad Bookout, a former member of the Delaware County Council;[40] Jim Crone, a sociology professor at Hanover College;[31] Lane Siekman, an attorney;[31] and Barry Welsh, who has challenged Pence three times, are running for the Democratic nomination.[31]

The 6th district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting,[31] and now stretches from Muncie to the Ohio River.[2]

Results
Indiana's 6th Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Luke Messer 162,613 59.08
Democratic Brad Bookout 96,678 35.12
Libertarian Rex Bell 15,962 5.80
Total votes 275,253 100.00
Republican hold
External links

District 7

Incumbent André Carson ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination, and faced Republican nominee Carlos May, a former aide for Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard.[41]

The 7th district lost Democratic-leaning areas in northern Marion County in redistricting, while acquiring more Republican areas in the south of the county.[6] Nonetheless, the district is expected to remain favorable to Democrats.[2]

Results
Indiana's 7th Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson 162,122 62.85
Republican Carlos May 95,828 37.15
Total votes 257,950 100.00
Democratic hold
External links

District 8

Republican incumbent Larry Bucshon faced former State Representative Dave Crooks, the Democratic nominee,[42] and Bart Gadau, the Libertarian nominee.[9]

The incumbent raised the relatively small total of US$45,330 in the first quarter of 2011.[43] Kristi Risk, a stay-at-home mom and unsuccessful Republican primary candidate in 2010, again lost to Bucshon.[44]

The 8th district's Democratic candidates agreed to participate in a caucus in which the chairs and vice chairs of 38 counties would vote to decide the party's nominee; after which the candidates not selected would support the winner.[45] Former state representative Dave Crooks was endorsed as the Democratic nominee by party leaders on December 10, 2011. Crooks ran against Thomas Barnett of Bowling Green, Indiana and William Bryk.[46]

The 8th district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats in redistricting, as a result of the removal of Fountain County, Putnam County and Warren County, all of which favor Republicans, and the addition of Dubois County, Perry County, Spencer County and part of Crawford County, all of which strongly favor neither party.[6]

Results
Indiana's 8th Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry Bucshon (inc.) 151,533 53.36
Democratic Dave Crooks 122,325 43.07
Libertarian Bart Gadau 10,134 3.57
Total votes 283,992 100.00
Republican hold
External links

District 9

Republican incumbent Todd Young ran for re-election and faced Democratic nominee Shelli Yoder, professional development director at Indiana University in Bloomington Kelley School of Business and former Miss Indiana.[47] Jason Sharp was nominated by the Libertarian Party but later dropped out.

Young ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Yoder won against four Democratic opponents:

The 9th district previously consisted mostly of rural areas in southeastern Indiana but was made more favorable to Republicans when the legislature extended it northwards to include Johnson County and Morgan County while also incorporating suburbs of Louisville, Kentucky.[2][6]

Results
Indiana's 9th Congressional District election, 2012 [1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Young (inc.) 165,332 55.45
Democratic Shelli Yoder 132,848 44.55
Total votes 298,180 100.00
Republican hold
External links

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "Election Results". Indiana Elections Division. 28 November 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Davies, Tom (April 28, 2011). "New Ind. congressional districts clear Legislature". The News-Times. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Indiana Legislature OKs redistricting proposal". WNDU. April 28, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  4. ↑ Martin, Deanna (May 11, 2011). "Ind. gov signs 80 bills into law, including budget". Forbes. Archived from the original on May 14, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  5. ↑ Carden, Dan (2012-05-08). "Phelps wins Republican primary for region's U.S. House seat : Elections". Nwitimes.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Toeplitz, Shira (June 7, 2011). "Race Ratings: GOP Poised to Scoop Up a Seat". Roll Call. Retrieved June 28, 2011.
  7. ↑ Lewis, Kevin (May 9, 2011). "Donnelly to Run for Sen. Lugar's Seat in Indiana". WNDU. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  8. ↑ Ziegler, Adam (July 12, 2011). "Brendan Mullen announces run for 2nd Congressional District seat". Fox 28. Retrieved October 28, 2011.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 2012 Federal Candidates, Libertarian Party of Indiana
  10. ↑ "Candidate Profile: Andrew Straw". Green Party of the United States. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  11. ↑ Staff, Truth (January 3, 2012). "Congressional candidate Straw switches to Green Party". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved February 13, 2012.
  12. ↑ Staff, Truth (May 6, 2011). "Goshen attorney Straw to run for Congress". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
  13. ↑ Vandenack, Tim (June 10, 2012). "Green Party hopeful a longshot for U.S. House seat". The Elkhart Truth. Retrieved 2012-06-18.
  14. ↑ Sullivan, Sean (April 11, 2011). "Joe Donnelly's Redistricting Blues". National Journal. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  15. ↑ Brian Francisco (2012-05-09). "Boyd wins nod in 3rd District". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑ "Benjamin Gehlhausen Biography - Project Vote Smart". Votesmart.org. Retrieved 2012-11-07.
  18. ↑ Carden, Dan (May 15, 2011). "Remap leaves U.S. Rep. Rokita outside his district". The Times. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  19. 1 2 Schneider, Mary Beth (January 31, 2012). "Rep. Dan Burton announces retirement from Congress". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  20. ↑ Schneider, Mary Beth (July 19, 2011). "Former U.S. attorney joins GOP primary against Burton". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved July 20, 2011.
  21. ↑ Schneider, Mary Beth (September 30, 2011). "State Rep. Reske plans run for Burton's seat in Congress". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 3, 2011.
  22. ↑ Butler, Cody (2012-05-09). "Brooks, Reske Win In 5th District Primary | News". Indiana Public Media. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  23. ↑ Schneider, Mary Beth; Groppe, Maureen (July 31, 2011). "Behind Closed Doors: Forget the Rolex; just fill out the paperwork". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  24. ↑ Shella, Jim (May 25, 2011). "McGoff challenges Burton for 5th District". WISH-TV. Retrieved May 25, 2011.
  25. ↑ Schneider, Mary Beth (July 7, 2011). "GOP primary could see McIntosh vie against Burton". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved July 8, 2011.
  26. 1 2 "Indiana Congressman Dan Burton plans re-election bid". The Courier-Journal. May 9, 2011. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  27. ↑ Guyett, Susan (May 5, 2011). "Republican Rep. Mike Pence to run for Indiana governor". Reuters. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  28. ↑ "Bookout to face 'young gun' Messer in race for U.S. Congress seat | The Star Press". thestarpress.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  29. ↑ "Messer, Bookout win vote in Delaware County for U.S. Congress seat | The Star Press". thestarpress.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  30. ↑ "May 8, 2012 Primary Election" (PDF). Indiana Secretary of State website. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  31. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Schneider, Mary Beth (July 9, 2011). "Candidates line up for Pence's open seat in Congress". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved July 11, 2011.
  32. ↑ Berman, Eric (October 7, 2011). "Ex-State Senator Makes Sixth Bid for Congress". WIBC. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  33. ↑ "About Joe Van Wye". Van Wye website. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  34. ↑ "Andrew Phipps announces campaign for Sixth District congressional seat". The Star Press. November 29, 2011. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  35. ↑ "Coroner to run for U.S. Congress". The Republic. January 10, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2012.
  36. 1 2 Engle, Bill (May 12, 2011). "Bates joining race for House". Palladium-Item. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  37. ↑ Toeplitz, Shira (May 5, 2011). "Messer Likely to Run for Pence's Seat". Roll Call. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  38. ↑ Francisco, Brian (May 12, 2011). "GOP candidate seeks open seat". The Journal Gazette. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  39. ↑ "Declaration of Candidacy for Primary Nomination" (PDF). Indiana Secretary of State website. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
  40. ↑ Roysdon, Keith; Walker, Douglas (July 24, 2011). "W/R REPORT: Meet the Muncie Dem's House candidate". The Star Press. Retrieved August 2, 2011.
  41. ↑ Robbin MoreyMay 9, 2012 9:04 AM (2012-05-09). "Carson, May to meet in 7th District congressional race | 2012-05-08 | Indianapolis Business Journal". IBJ.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  42. ↑ Anonymous. "Bucshon, Crooks cruising to wins in 8th » Election 2012 » News From Terre Haute, Indiana". Tribstar.com. Retrieved 2012-06-03.
  43. ↑ Willis, Derek (April 15, 2011). "House Freshmen Post Fund-Raising Numbers". The New York Times. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
  44. ↑ Langhorne, Thomas B. (August 17, 2011). "Bucshon to face GOP opponent Kristi Risk for 8th District seat". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved August 18, 2011.
  45. ↑ Bradner, Eric (December 1, 2011). "Democratic leaders will caucus to choose 8th District candidate". Evansville Courier & Press. Retrieved December 5, 2011.
  46. ↑ "8Th District Dem Caucus Endorses Dave Crooks". Eyewitness News 9. December 10, 2011. Retrieved December 13, 2011.
  47. ↑ Schneider, Grace (May 9, 2012). "Shelli Yoder wins Democratic nod to take on Todd Young for the Indiana 9th District seat". Louisville Courier-Journal. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  48. ↑ LoBianco, Tom (October 10, 2011). "Ex-Obama security aide to run for Congress in Ind.". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  49. ↑ Zion Hershberg, Ben (October 24, 2011). "Ex-aide will run in Indiana's 9th District". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved October 28, 2011.

External links

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