Congressional politics in Indiana were shaken up when Evan Bayh announced that he would not run for re-election to the U.S. Senate this year. The announcement came just a couple of days before the filing deadline, guaranteeing that no Democrat would have sufficient time to gather the required signatures to qualify for a primary election ballot. And so, the fix was in. A small group of Indiana Democratic Party insiders, rather than rank and file Democratic voters, were able to choose the Democratic nominee to the U.S. Senate, and the insiders, who were allies of Evan Bayh, chose Bayh’s protege, Representative Brad Ellsworth.
Ellsworth is facing Republican Dan Coats, who has proclaimed that fighting legislation to fight climate change “is not the answer”. With 92 percent of the vote now in, Coats is ahead of Ellsworth 55 percent to 40 percent.
In the 1st congressional district of Indiana, Democratic incumbent Pete Visclosky is being challenged by Republican Mark Leyva, who declares that climate legislation is based upon “bogus science”. 96 percent of precincts in this district are now reporting, and Visclosky has pulled ahead of Leyva, 59 to 38 percent.
2nd district incumbent Democrat Joe Donnelly has been working to fend off Republican Jackie Walorski, whose campaign has been propped up by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce. With 99 percent of precincts reporting, Donnelly is in the lead, narrowly, 48 percent to 47 percent, with a difference of about 2,500 votes.
In the 3rd district, Mark Souder was the incumbent, but resigned, leaving the seat in the U.S. House of Representatives vacant. To fill the post, Republican Marlin Stutzman is competing against Democrat Tom Hayhurst. Neither candidate has expressed an inclination to address the issue of climate change. All precincts are reporting, and Stutzman has won, 63 percent to 33 percent.
4th district incumbent Steve Buyer is not running for re-election. So, a newcomer will now fill this seat – either Republican Ted Rokita or Democrat David Sanders. Rokita has a solid lead of 43 points right now, with 92 percent of the vote in.
In the 5th district, Republican incumbent Dan Burton was expected to win over Democrat Tim Crawford… and he has. With 100 percent of precincts reporting in this district, Burton is ahead 62 to 25.
6th district powerhouse Representative Mike Pence is tough to beat, as a member of the congressional Republican leadership with lots of corporate backers. Democrat Barry Welsh is putting in a good, but inadequate show with 30 percent to Pence’s 67 percent, with all precincts reporting.
Democratic incumbent Andre Carson is facing Republican Marvin Scott in today’s contest in the 7th district. With 98 percent of precincts in this district now reporting, Carson is ahead, 59 percent of the vote to 38 percent for Scott.
The 8th district seat has been abandoned by Senate-seeking Brad Ellsworth, and so it has been left up to Democrat Trent Van Haaften to take on Republican politician Larry Bucshon. And with 93 percent of the vote now recorded in the 8th district, it seems that the district has probably left the Democratic column. Bucshon is ahead 57 to 38 percent.
Finally, in the 9th congressional district, Blue Dog Democrat incumbent Baron Hill is defending his tender seat from an onslaught by a Republican rich in independent expenditure allies, Todd Young. With every precinct reporting, we now know that Baron Hill will become one of the many examples in a nationwide story of right wing Blue Dog Democrats fallen victim to hungry right wing Republicans. Representative Hill has just 42 percent of the vote. Todd Young has 53 percent.
I wouldn’t call Baron Hill a “Right Wing Blue Dog Democrat” by any stretch of the imagination! He is only Right Wing when he speaks in his district, all other times he votes whatever Obama tella him to do!
Uh, no, Murray, he doesn’t. See here.
Murray, Baron Hill’s history in Congress goes WAY back before Barack Obama. So, it doesn’t make sense to depict him as always voting in the way that Barack Obama tells him to.
Besides that, as Jim points out, Baron Hill has consistently voted WITH Republicans, AGAINST liberal Democratic legislation.
I feel bad that Pete Visclosky retained his seat in Congress. This guy insulted many small business people and voters with his OBAMA support attitude. I feel the candidate against him was a soft selection. Pete has forgotten that all these projects he brings into our district is at the expense of the taxpayer and small business. He should have voted to allow GM, AIG and big banks to go belly up, declare bankruptcy and re -organize for success. TEA Party and others remember we must continue to fight until 2012 when we can again take America back and set it on the foundation of our founding fathers. Pete we are stil watching…