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2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

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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.

Quick facts All 9 Indiana seats to the United States House of Representatives, Majority party ...
2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

 2010
November 6, 2012 (2012-11-06)
2014 

All 9 Indiana seats to the United States House of Representatives
  Majority party Minority party
 
Party Republican Democratic
Last election 6 3
Seats won 7 2
Seat change Increase 1 Decrease 1
Popular vote 1,351,760 1,142,554
Percentage 52.93% 44.74%
Swing Decrease 2.72% Increase 5.86%

Close

Overview

More information United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012, Party ...
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 -
Close

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 argued that the map was intended to protect Republican incumbents and help the Republican Party win the 2nd district.[2]

District 1

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2012 Indiana's 1st congressional district election

 2010
2014 
 
Nominee Pete Visclosky Joel Phelps
Party Democratic Republican
Popular vote 187,743 91,291
Percentage 67.3% 32.7%

County results
Visclosky:      60–70%

U.S. Representative before election

Pete Visclosky
Democratic

Elected U.S. Representative

Pete Visclosky
Democratic

Close

The district, based in the suburbs and exurbs of Chicago, acquired parts of LaPorte County, including Michigan City, in redistricting.[5]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pete Visclosky (incumbent) 42,219 100.0
Total votes 42,219 100.0
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Joel Phelps, industrial engineer[6]

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Joel Phelps 11,952 100.0
Total votes 11,952 100.0
Close

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[7] Safe D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe D November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe D November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe D November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe D November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe D November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe D November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 1st congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pete Visclosky (incumbent) 187,743 67.3
Republican Joel Phelps 91,291 32.7
Total votes 279,034 100.0
Democratic hold
Close

District 2

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]

Democratic primary

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]

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Dan Morrison, small business owner
Withdrawn
Declined

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brendan Mullen 11,218 54.1
Democratic Dan Morrison 9,519 45.9
Total votes 20,737 100.0
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Greg Andrews, physician
Withdrawn
  • Mitch Feikes, real estate developer and broker

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jackie Walorski 46,873 72.8
Republican Greg Andrews 17,522 27.2
Total votes 64,395 100.0
Close

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

Green primary

Andrew Straw, an attorney, switched from the Democratic Party to Green Party and ran for this seat.[19][20] 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. He was, however, disqualified from the ballot in July.[21]

General election

Endorsements

Brendan Mullen (D)
Jackie Walorski (R)

Organizations

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[25] Likely R (flip) November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe R (flip) November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Likely R (flip) November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Likely R (flip) November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe D November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Likely R (flip) November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Lean R (flip) November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 2nd congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Jackie Walorski 134,033 49.0
Democratic Brendan Mullen 130,113 47.6
Libertarian Joe Ruiz 9,326 3.4
Independent Kenneth R. Lunce Jr. (write-in) 3 0.0
Total votes 273,475 100.0
Republican gain from Democratic
Close

District 3

The 3rd district was 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 might have made Stutzman vulnerable to a primary challenge.[5]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marlin Stutzman (incumbent) 74,812 100.0
Total votes 74,812 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Stephen Hope
  • Justin Kuhnle, family case manager
  • John Roberson, former police officer
  • Tommy Schrader
  • David Sowards

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Kevin R. Boyd 5,985 47.8
Democratic Tommy A. Schrader 1,694 13.5
Democratic Stephen G. Hope 1,441 11.5
Democratic Justin Kuhnle 1,265 10.1
Democratic David Sowards 1,172 9.4
Democratic John Forrest Roberson 966 7.7
Total votes 12,523 100.0
Close

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 3rd congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Marlin Stutzman (incumbent) 187,872 67.0
Democratic Kevin Boyd 92,363 33.0
Total votes 280,235 100.0
Republican hold
Close

District 4

Republican incumbent Todd Rokita ran for re-election in 2012. 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.[27] The 4th district was expected to remain favorable to Republicans.[2]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Rokita (incumbent) 73,089 100.0
Total votes 73,089 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Lester Moore, former Newton County Assessor

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Tara E. Nelson 7,018 58.3
Democratic Lester Terry Moore 5,010 41.7
Total votes 12,028 100.0
Close

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Benjamin Gehlhausen, economics and professional flight technology major at Purdue University[18][28]

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 4th congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Rokita (incumbent) 168,688 61.9
Democratic Tara Nelson 93,015 34.2
Libertarian Benjamin Gehlhausen 10,565 3.9
Total votes 272,268 100.0
Republican hold
Close

District 5

Quick facts Nominee, Party ...
2012 Indiana's 5th congressional district election

 2010
2014 
 
Nominee Susan Brooks Scott Reske
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 194,570 125,347
Percentage 58.4% 37.6%

County results
Brooks:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Reske:      50–60%

U.S. Representative before election

Dan Burton
Republican

Elected U.S. Representative

Susan Brooks
Republican

Close

The 5th district continues to include Hamilton County and the north side of Indianapolis,[29] but received Democratic-leaning areas in northern Marion County and Madison County,[5] and lost rural areas near Fort Wayne.[29] The district was expected to continue to favor Republicans.[2]

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.[30]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Jason Anderson
  • Jack Lugar, attorney[32]
  • John McGoff, physician and candidate for this seat in 2008 & 2010[33]
  • David McIntosh, former U.S. Representative and lobbyist[34]
  • Matthew Mount
  • Bill Salin, business analyst and Air Force veteran
  • Wayne Seybold, Mayor of Marion and former Olympic pair skater[30]
Withdrawn
Declined

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Brooks 31,185 30.2
Republican David McIntosh 30,175 29.2
Republican John McGoff 23,773 23.0
Republican Wayne Seybold 11,874 11.5
Republican Jack Lugar 4,758 4.6
Republican Jason Anderson 1,036 1.0
Republican Bill Salin 869 0.8
Republican Matthew Mount 453 0.4
Total votes 103,254 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Tony Long, general motors retiree

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Scott Reske 13,175 63.1
Democratic Tony Long 7,692 36.9
Total votes 20,867 100.0
Close

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Endorsements

Susan Brooks (R)

Organizations

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 5th congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Susan Brooks 194,570 58.4
Democratic Scott Reske 125,347 37.6
Libertarian Chard Reid 13,442 4.0
Total votes 333,359 100.0
Republican hold
Close

District 6

The 6th district was made more favorable to Republicans in redistricting,[37] and now stretches from Muncie to the Ohio River.[2]

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.[38]

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Luke Messer 32,859 40.3
Republican Travis Hankins 23,276 28.6
Republican Don Bates Jr. 10,913 13.4
Republican Bill Frazier 8,446 10.4
Republican Joe Sizemore 2,346 2.9
Republican Allen K. Smith II 1,679 2.1
Republican Joseph S. Van Wye, Sr 989 1.2
Republican John Hatter 917 1.1
Total votes 81,425 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Dan Bolling, biotech entrepreneur
  • Jim Crone, sociology professor at Hanover College[37]
  • Susan Hall Heitzman, small business owner
  • George Holland, salesman
Declined

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Bradley T. Bookout 8,278 30.9
Democratic Susan Hall Heitzman 7,077 26.5
Democratic Jim Crone 5,611 21.0
Democratic Dan Bolling 3,719 13.9
Democratic George T. Holland 2,059 7.7
Total votes 26,744 100.0
Close

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Rex Bell, owner of a contracting business in the New Castle area[18]

General election

Endorsements

Luke Messer (R)

Organizations

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 6th congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Luke Messer 162,613 59.1
Democratic Brad Bookout 96,678 35.1
Libertarian Rex Bell 15,962 5.8
Total votes 275,253 100.0
Republican hold
Close

District 7

The 7th district lost Democratic-leaning areas in northern Marion County in redistricting, while acquiring more Republican areas in the south of the county.[5] Nonetheless, the district was expected to remain favorable to Democrats.[2]

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Bob Kern, paralegal
  • Pierre Pullins, warehouse worker
  • Woodrow Wilcox

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 34,782 90.3
Democratic Bob "Citizen" Kern 2,048 5.3
Democratic Woodrow Wilcox 1,082 2.8
Democratic Pierre Quincy Pullins 586 1.5
Total votes 38,498 100.0
Close

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Steve Davis, former Southport police chief
  • Tony Duncan, Army veteran and union worker
  • Wayne Harmon, parole agent and former Marine
  • J.D. Miniear, Christian ministry outreach
  • Catherine Ping, Army Reserve lieutenant colonel and business owner
  • Larry Shouse

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Carlos A. May 10,783 26.8
Republican Catherine Ping 9,771 24.3
Republican Steven Davis 7,727 19.1
Republican Wayne E. Harmon 4,252 10.6
Republican Anthony W. Duncan 4,079 10.1
Republican JD Miniear 2,227 5.5
Republican Lawrence B. Shouse 1,412 3.5
Total votes 40,251 100.0
Close

General election

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[7] Safe D November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe D November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe D November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe D November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe D November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe D November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe D November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 7th congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 162,122 62.9
Republican Carlos May 95,828 37.1
Total votes 257,950 100.0
Democratic hold
Close

District 8

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.[5] Republican incumbent Larry Bucshon ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Kristi Risk, stay-at-home mom[50]

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry D. Bucshon (incumbent) 34,511 58.0
Republican Kristi Risk 24,960 42.0
Total votes 59,471 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

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.[51] Former state representative Dave Crooks was endorsed as the Democratic nominee by party leaders on December 10, 2011.

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
  • Thomas Barnett
  • William Bryk, attorney and perennial candidate
Withdrawn
Declined

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Dave Crooks 18,634 57.7
Democratic Thomas Barnett 10,638 32.9
Democratic William Bryk 3,023 9.4
Total votes 32,295 100.0
Close

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

General election

Endorsements

Dave Crooks (D)

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report[25] Lean R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Likely R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Lean R November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Lean R November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Likely R November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Lean R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 8th congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Larry Bucshon (incumbent) 151,533 53.3
Democratic Dave Crooks 122,325 43.1
Libertarian Bart Gadau 10,134 3.6
Total votes 283,992 100.0
Republican hold
Close

District 9

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][5] Republican incumbent Todd Young ran for re-election.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Young (incumbent) 59,327 100.0
Total votes 59,327 100.0
Close

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
Eliminated in primary
Declined

Primary results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Shelli Yoder 13,186 47.7
Democratic Robert Winningham 5,590 20.2
Democratic Jonathan George 4,591 16.6
Democratic John W. Tilford 2,233 8.1
Democratic John Griffin Miller 2,062 7.4
Total votes 27,662 100.0
Close

General election

Jason Sharp was nominated by the Libertarian Party but later dropped out.

Predictions

More information Source, Ranking ...
Source Ranking As of
The Cook Political Report Safe R November 5, 2012
Rothenberg[8] Safe R November 2, 2012
Roll Call[9] Safe R November 4, 2012
Sabato's Crystal Ball[10] Safe R November 5, 2012
NY Times[11] Safe R November 4, 2012
RCP[12] Safe R November 4, 2012
The Hill[13] Safe R November 4, 2012
Close

Results

More information Party, Candidate ...
Indiana's 9th congressional district, 2012[1]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Todd Young (incumbent) 165,332 55.4
Democratic Shelli Yoder 132,848 44.6
Total votes 298,180 100.0
Republican hold
Close

References

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