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Tuesday’s election results led to little change in state and federal offices in Indiana. Republicans will maintain their supermajorities in the Indiana Statehouse, but there will be many new faces in both chambers. The Senate Republicans will increase their supermajority, gaining one seat, taking the Senate count to 40 Republicans and 10 Democrats. At this point, it appears the House is likely to remain at 71 Republicans and 29 Democrats.
The four caucuses will meet today to decide on leadership for the next 2 years. The legislature will convene on November 22 for Organization Day to swear in new members and prepare for the upcoming 2023 Legislative Session.
Outstanding Legislative Races
House District 32, which covers Hamilton and northern Marion counties after the 2021 redistricting process significantly changed the makeup of the district, is yet to be called with Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn currently leading Republican Fred Glynn 50.5% to 49.5% with 99.0% of the vote counted.
House District 89, has not yet called the race with a margin of 213 votes separating the candidates. With 99% of votes counted, Democratic incumbent Mitch Gore leads Republican challenger Michael-Paul Hart 50.8% to 49.2% and is expected to maintain his seat.
US Senate
Republican Senator Todd Young easily won his second term with 58.9% of the vote over opponents Democratic Mayor Tom McDermott (37.6%) and Libertarian James Sceniak (3.5%). Young maintained his front-runner status throughout the campaign, maintaining fundraising advantages over McDermott. In his victory speech, Young thanked his supporters and vowed to tackle “the spending problem” and fight back against the Biden-Harris administration agenda. Young stated, “This Marine is ready to go back to Washington to fight against the Biden-Harris agenda wherever necessary. But I am also ready to work across party lines to conquer America’s challenges and to defeat our enemies abroad.”
Congress
Incumbent Congressman Frank Mrvan (D) held onto Northwest Indiana’s Congressional District 1 seat in the most competitive race this election cycle. With 52.8% of the vote, Mrvan easily defeated Republican opponent Jennifer-Ruth Green (47.2%). New Congressman Rudy Yakym, who was recently caucused in to finish the late Rep. Jackie Walorski’s term, will continue to hold the seat after prevailing with 64.6% of the vote over Democratic opponent Paul Steury (32.4%) in Congressional District 2. Erin Houchin was victorious in Congressional District 9 after a crowded May primary. Houchin steadily defeated her opponent Matthew Fyfe (32.8%) with 64.2% of the vote. All other incumbents, including central Indiana’s Congressman Andre Carson (CD 7), Congressman Greg Pence (CD 6), and Congresswoman Victoria Spartz (CD 5) won their bids for re-election as predicted.
Statewide Races
Republicans claimed victory after winning in every statewide race on election day.
After a competitive race filled with controversy, Diego Morales (R) was able to defeat opponent Destiny Wells (D) in the Secretary of State race with a 54.5% to 40.0% margin. Morales prevailed despite his history of being fired from the Secretary of State’s office twice under former Secretary Todd Rokita, unanswered questions about his military record, sexual assault allegations, and refusing to attend public debates. Morales has campaigned on making election accessibility more difficult, including cutting the absentee voting time frame in half.
Republican auditor Tera Klutz won her reelection bid with 60.0% of the vote, compared to Democrat ZeNai Brooks with 36.5% and Libertarian John Schick with 3.4%. Republican Dan Elliott, former Chair of the Morgan County Republican Party, defeated Democratic opponent Jessica McClellan, the Monroe County treasurer with a margin of 61.0% to 39.0%.
Statehouse
With half of the Indiana State Senate seats up for re-election, Republicans were able to gain a seat in District 1, as incumbent Michael Griffin, who was caucused in to replace retired Senator Frank Mrvan (D), lost his seat to Republican Dan Dernulc by a margin of 52.3% to 47.7%.
Democrats had hoped to pick up a seat in central Indiana, but incumbent Kyle Walker (R) defeated Fishers City Council member Jocelyn Vare (D) in District 31.
Two Democrat incumbents targeted by the GOP are likely to prevail, as J.D Ford is expected to narrowly retain his seat with 50.2% of the vote over Republican Alex Choi (49.8%) with 99% of votes counted in Senate District 49. Incumbent Rodney Pol, who was caucused in to replace retired District 4 Senator Karen Tallian, defeated Republican challenger Jeff Larson with 53% of the vote. Democrats also won in an open Senate seat, with Andrea Hunley’s victory in the new Senate District 46 over Republican Evan Shearin with a margin of 72.0% to 28.0%.
Republican incumbent Jerry Torr defeated challenger Matt McNally 52.4% to 47.6%. Torr has held his seat for 26 years. Republican Donna Schaibley won reelection to House District 24 over Democratic challenger Joellyn Mayer with a margin of 56.6% to 40.8%. In the race for House District 25, Republican and far-right Liberty Defense PAC backed candidate Becky Cash defeated Democrat Jen Bass-Patino 52.7% to 47.3%. In an upset, Incumbent Democrat Terri Austin lost her bid to an 11th term to Republican opponent Kyle Pierce who won 53.0% of the vote, with only 333 votes separating the two. Incumbent Democrat Rita Fleming is expected to lose her House District 71 seat to Republican Scott Hawking with a razor-thin margin of 50.1% to 49.9%, or a mere 35 votes.
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