VGTs for Indiana is continuing to advocate for crucial legislation and is collaborating with an advocacy team, that has provided this election updated, to support this effort.
US Senate
Pre-election 2-0 Republicans to Democrats / Post-election 2-0 Republicans to Democrats.
In a race that never really materialized, Republican Congressman Jim Banks easily won his race for US Senate to replace Mike Braun (who decided not to run again, vacating his seat to run for Governor). Banks will join sitting incumbent US Senator Todd Young representing Indiana.
Congress
Pre-election 7-2 Republicans to Democrats / Post-election 7-2 Republicans to Democrat.
In a rare event, Indiana had 3 open congressional seats due to retirements.
District 1 – Incumbent Democrat Frank Mrvan – Despite a strong showing by the Republican, Congressman Mrvan was reelected by a much smaller margin than expected.
District 2 – Incumbent Republican Rudy Yakym easily won re-election.
District 3 – This open seat vacated by congressman Jim Banks faced a packed Republican Primary. Eventually, sending former congressman, Marlin Stutzman back to congress after an 8-year hiatus.
District 4 – Incumbent Republican Congressman Jim Baird never faced a serious threat and easily won re-election.
District 5 - Incumbent Republican Victoria Spartz – After originally announcing that she would not run - changed her mind at the 11th hour creating a nasty primary. After emerging from the primary, the incumbent Spartz won re-election by a much smaller margin than her last election.
District 6 – Congressman Greg Pence, brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, decided not to run again, creating another large Republican primary race to replace him. Former Indianapolis Republican Mayor candidate Jefferson Shreve rode to victory in the Primary and General, bolstered by his former campaign for Mayor and a large self-funded war chest.
District 7 - Incumbent Democrat, Andre Carson was sent back to congress without a serious challenge.
District 8 – In another open seat, incumbent Congressman Larry Bucshon stepped away and former State Senator, Mark Messmer won a competitive primary, sending the former Senator to D.C. easily winning the General election.
District 9 – Incumbent Republican Erin Houchin, running her first re-election campaign, easily won re-election and will return to congress for another term.
Governor
In what has been an up and down race and an anticipated shot for the Democrats, Republican Mike Braun pulled out a bigger victory than expected over former superintendent of public instruction, Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Candidate Donald Rainwater. Despite large sums of outside dollars pouring in late for the Democrats, and very close early numbers in suburban counties, Braun’s race was called only after one hour post polls closing. Governor-elect Braun will be busy with his transition prior to being officially sworn into office the first week of January.
Attorney General
In another high-profile race and anticipated shot for Democrats, Republican Attorney General incumbent Todd Rokita defeated Democrat Destiny Wells in a hard-fought battle.
State House
A large number of retirements and a few possible surprises means that when the 2025 Indiana General Assembly convenes, at a minimum, there will be 13 new freshmen joining the ranks of the 150 members and Republicans will maintain their super majorities in both chambers.
State Senate
Pre-election 40 – 10 Republicans to Democrats / Post-election 40 - 10 Republicans to Democrats.
25 of the 50 members were up with very few facing any true challenges. There were a few open races and a few short lived challenges by Democrats but Republicans will maintain their super majority 40-10
House of Representatives
Pre-election 70 – 30 Republicans to Democrats / Post-election 70 - 30 Republicans to Democrats. One race is facing a possible recount and some provisional ballots to be counted.
Marked by a large number of open seats, Democrats were hoping to ultimately break the Republican’s supermajority stranglehold but were not able to convert several tight races. Many open seats were decided in their respective primaries, but a number of seats in the suburbs in and around Indianapolis – along with a few scattered around the state - were highly competitive including;
House District 24 (Hamilton and Boone counties): Incumbent Republican Rep. Donna Schaibley, R-Carmel, isn't running for reelection. Competing for the seat are Democrat Josh Lowry and former Colts player, Republican Hunter Smith. Hunter Smith came out victorious in the end.
House District 32 (Hamilton County): Incumbent State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn, D-Fishers, is running against Republican Patricia Bratton. In 2022, Garcia Wilburn narrowly won the race, by less than 250 votes, against her then-challenger Fred Glynn. Rep. Wilburn came out ahead after a very close race.
House District 39 (Hamilton County): State Rep. Jerry Torr, R-Carmel, is retiring after 30 years in the seat. Vying to replace him are Republican Danny Lopez, a Pacers communications executive, and Democrat Matt McNally, an Afghanistan war veteran. In 2022, newcomer McNally lost to Torr by only 5 percentage points. In one of the tightest and most expensive races, newcomer Lopez eeked out a win dashing the Democrats hopes of knocking down the Republican supermajority.
*House District 25 (Boone and Hendricks counties) Incumbent Republican Becky Cash, R-Zionsville faces off against Democrat newcomer Tiffany Stoner in a race that had both sides pouring large dollars into the respective camps right up to the deadline. This race still has provisional ballots to be counted and the Democrat Stoner, has not conceded. Cash leads by a slim 60 vote margin.
House District 69 (Jackson, Bartholomew, Jennings, Scott and Washington counties): State Rep. Jim Lucas, R-Seymour, has comfortably held the seat since 2012, but has had a string of controversies and now faces an experienced opponent, Democrat Trish Whitcomb. That should be a familiar name: She's the daughter of former Republican Gov. Edgar D. Whitcomb. Despite a strong showing by Whitcomb, Lucas emerged victorious.
House District 62 (Brown, Monroe and Jackson counties): State Rep. Dave Hall, R-Norman, is defending his seat against Democrat Thomas Horrocks, a member of the Army National Guard and a former pastor. Hall only defended his seat by one percentage point in 2022. In another close and expensive race, Hall pulled out another narrow victory.
House District 71 (Jeffersonville): Democratic State Rep. Rita Fleming barely defended her seat in 2022 against Republican Scott Hawkins, a teacher and Jefferson City councilor. She stepped down from her seat before the end of her term. Wendy Dant Chesser, was caucused in to fill out Fleming's term. This race, as expected, was close, with Dant Chesser claiming victory.
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