Indiana 2016 General Election Recap

Now that the dust has settled from the November 2016 election, Faegre Baker Daniels’ Indiana government team is providing you with a recap of the state’s results. The unexpected landslide of the Trump-Pence ticket had coattails that benefitted Republicans all the way down the ballot. Some of the highlights follow:

President of the United States

President-elect Donald Trump (R) and current Indiana Governor and Vice President-elect Mike Pence defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (D). In Indiana, Trump won 57 percent to Clinton’s 38 percent. The Trump-Pence ticket won 88 of Indiana’s 92 counties. The only four Hoosier counties in the Clinton column were Lake, Marion, Monroe and St. Joseph.

In case you missed it, FaegreBD provided the key policy changes by a Trump administration in “Trump Administration Forecast: Changes to Key Policies Expected” in a November 14 update.

U.S. Senate

In July, former Indiana Governor and U.S. Senator Evan Bayh (D) replaced former Congressman Baron Hill on the ticket. Polling at the time showed Bayh ahead of Congressman Todd Young (R) by 26 points. Commonly viewed as a battleground seat for control of the U.S. Senate, this heated campaign resulted in a combined $55 million being spent by the campaigns and outside groups. Republican Congressman Young defeated Bayh 52 percent to 42 percent, with Young winning 84 of Indiana’s 92 counties.

U.S. House

District 1: Incumbent Pete Visclosky (D) didn’t face any major party opposition and won with 81 percent of the vote. Visclosky has served District 1 since 1985.

District 2: Incumbent Congresswoman Jackie Walorski (R) defeated Lynn Coleman (D), winning with 59 percent of the vote. Walorski has served District 2 since 2013.

District 3: State Senator Jim Banks (R) defeated Tommy Schrader (D) with 70 percent of the vote. The seat was vacated by Congressman Marlin Stutzman (R), who ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate.

District 4: Incumbent Congressman Todd Rokita (R) defeated John Dale (D) with 65 percent of the vote. Rokita has served District 4 since 2011.

District 5: Incumbent Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R) defeated Angela Demaree (D) with 61 percent of the vote. Brooks has served District 5 since 2013.

District 6: Incumbent Congressman Luke Messer (R) defeated Barry Welsh (D) with 69 percent of the vote. Messer has served District 6 since 2013.

District 7: Incumbent Congressman André Carson (D) defeated Cat Ping (R) with 60 percent of the vote. Carson has served District 7 since 2008.

District 8: Incumbent Congressman Dr. Larry Bucshon (R) defeated Ron Drake (D) with 64 percent of the vote. Bucshon has served District 8 since 2011.

District 9: Republican Trey Hollingsworth defeated Shelli Yoder (D) with 54 percent of the vote. The seat was vacated by Congressman Todd Young, who ran successfully for the open U.S. Senate seat. Hollingsworth owns Hollingsworth Capital Partners, a company that rehabilitates abandoned warehouses and manufacturing sites.

Indiana Governor

Republican Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb joined the race on July 26 after Governor Mike Pence was selected to be President-elect Donald Trump’s running mate. Following what was essentially a 100-day campaign, Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb defeated former Democratic Speaker of the House John Gregg, 51 percent to 45 percent.

Lt. Governor-elect Suzanne Crouch will be vacating her post as Auditor of State. The Governor will appoint a new Auditor of State to serve the remainder of the term through 2018.

Indiana’s incoming statewide officials are expected to hold an Inauguration on January 9.

Indiana Attorney General

Elkhart County Prosecutor Curtis Hill (R) defeated Lake County Judge Lorenzo Arredondo (D) with 62 percent of the vote. Previously, Hill worked as the deputy prosecuting attorney for Elkhart County and owned a general law practice.

Indiana State Superintendent of Public Instruction

In a surprising upset, Jennifer McCormick (R) defeated incumbent Superintendent of Public Instruction Glenda Ritz (D) 53 percent to 47 percent. McCormick currently serves as the Superintendent of Yorktown Community Schools. She previously has served as a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent.

Indiana General Assembly

The Indiana General Assembly will gavel in for Organization Day on November 22. Legislative leaders will highlight their agenda for the 2017 Session, which will reconvene on January 3.

Indiana State Senate

Twenty-five of Indiana’s 50 state senate seats were up for election. Republicans gained one seat, bringing their majority over Democrats to 41-9. State Senator David Long (R-Fort Wayne) will continue to serve as Senate President Pro Tempore.

New State Senate Members

SD 3: Eddie Melton (D-Gary) is the Manager of Community Relations for the Northern Indiana Public Service Company. He has served on the Indiana State Board of Education, Gary Chamber of Commerce and the Indiana Commission on the Social Status of Black Males. The incumbent, Earline Rogers (D), retired.

SD 8: Mike Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores) served as the LaPorte County Commissioner from 2006 to present. Previously, he worked in the transportation industry and is a consultant with Echo Global Logistics. The incumbent, Jim Arnold (D), retired.

SD 10: David Niezgodski (D-South Bend) served at the State Representative from District 7 since 2006. He was the Assistant Democratic Whip and served on a variety of committees, including Agriculture and Rural Development; Employment, Labor and Pensions; and Ways and Means. He is part-owner and president of Niezgodski Plumbing, Inc. The incumbent, John Broden (D), retired.

SD 12: Blake Doriot (R-Syracuse) is in his sixth term as Elkhart County Surveyor. He is also a small-business owner and a Farm Bureau member. Doriot lists pro-life values, jobs, property rights and government spending as important issues to him. The incumbent, Carlin Yoder (R), did not seek re-election.

SD 24: John Crane (R-Avon) is the founder and CEO of the Sagamore Leadership Initiative, as well as an adjunct professor at Grace College, newspaper columnist and director of the Indiana Family Institute’s leadership training program. The incumbent, Pete Miller (R), was defeated by Crane in the primary election.

SD 30: John Ruckelshaus (R-Indianapolis) has served Indiana in a variety of public service roles, including a stint in the Indiana House of Representatives. The incumbent, Scott Schneider (R), did not seek re-election.

SD 32: Aaron Freeman (R-Indianapolis), a self-employed attorney, is currently a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council, representing the city’s southeast side. He previously served as a Marion County Deputy Prosecutor. The incumbent, Pat Miller (R), retired.

SD 36: Jack Sandlin (R-Indianapolis) is a former law enforcement officer and now runs Jack Sandlin & Associates, a private investigation and security consulting business. He currently serves on the Indianapolis City-County Council on the city’s south side and previously served as the Perry Township Trustee. The incumbent, Brent Waltz (R), did not seek re-election.

SD 44: Eric Koch (R- Bedford), an attorney, has served as an Indiana State Representative for House District 65 for the last 14 years. The incumbent, Brent Steele (R), retired.

Indiana House of Representatives

All 100 seats were up for re-election. Democrats had a net gain of one seat, but Republicans continue to hold a 70-30 super majority. Speaker Brian Bosma (R) will continue to be Speaker of the House.

New State House Members

HD 2: Earl Harris, Jr. (D-East Chicago) is the President and Producer of Motivation Media. This is his first elected position. The incumbent is Harris’ mother, Donna Harris (D). She filled the remainder of the term for her late husband.

HD 7: Joe Taylor III (D-South Bend) is an assembler at A.M. General and is the President of the local UAW. The incumbent, David Niezgodski (D), was elected to the State Senate.

HD 12: Mara Candelaria Reardon (D-Munster) returns to the seat she held from 2006-214. She is the Executive Director of the Lake County Drug-Free Alliance. Reardon defeated the incumbent, Bill Fine (R).

HD 17: Jack Jordan (R-Bremen) served as the President of the Bremen Public Schools Board and is a Board Trustee of Ancilla College. This is his first elected position. The incumbent, Tim Harman (R), did not seek re-election.

HD 20: Jim Pressel (R-LaPorte) owns Pressel Enterprises, Inc., a homebuilding company he started in 1992. This is his first elected position. The incumbent, Tom Dermody (R), did not seek re-election.

HD 26: Sally Siegrist (R-West Lafayette) served on the Tippecanoe County Council. The incumbent, Randy Truitt (R), did not seek re-election.

HD 47: John Young (R-Franklin) is an attorney at Young & Young in Indianapolis. He served on the Board of Directors for the Brain Injury Association of Indiana. The incumbent, John Price (R), retired.

HD 65: Chris May (R- Bedford) is in his third term as Lawrence County Commissioner. He also owns and operates Hoosier Tech Properties, a small business providing residential housing. The incumbent, Eric Koch (R), successfully ran for Indiana State Senate District 44.

HD 70: Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown) spent 14 years as the Harrison County Auditor. The incumbent, Rhonda Rhoads (R), retired.

HD 77: Ryan Hatfield (D-Evansville) is an attorney. He also serves as a Vanderburgh County deputy prosecutor. The incumbent, Gail Riecken (D), retired.

HD 85: David Heine (R-Fort Wayne) owns his own family farm and spent 28 years working for Do it Best Corp. This is his first elected office. The incumbent, Casey Cox (R), was defeated by Heine in the primary election.

HD 87: Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) is the Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition and has spent her career working in environmental activism. Hamilton served as co-chair for the Environmental Programs Committee for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl Host Committee. The incumbent, Christina Hale (D), ran for Lieutenant Governor.

Upcoming Caucuses

The Republican caucus to replace Congressman-elect Jim Banks (R) in State Senate District 17 is tentatively scheduled for December 5.

Marion County Republicans will caucus to replace newly elected State Senators Aaron Freeman and Jack Sandlin on the Indianapolis City-County Council sometime in December.

Indiana Constitutional Amendment

With 80 percent of the vote, Indiana citizens voted to add an amendment to the state Constitution that protects the right to hunt and fish. The amendment prohibits local governments from modifying hunting and fishing rules. It grants authority to the Indiana General Assembly. It deems hunting the preferred method of animal control. Before making it to the ballot, the amendment language had to be approved by two separately elected Indiana legislatures. It was approved by the General Assembly in 2014 and 2016.

Mass Transit Referendum 

Marion County voters gave 59 percent approval for an income tax hike to support a public transportation initiative in Indianapolis. If approved by the Indianapolis City-County Council, local income taxes could increase up to 25 cents per $100, providing an additional $56 million in annual tax revenue. The initiative calls for an increase of rapid bus transit and a proposed transit line, the Red Line, to eventually run from Westfield to Greenwood.