The 2010 congressional elections in Indiana were held on November 2, 2010, to determine who would represent the state of Indiana in the United States House of Representatives. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected served in the 112th Congress from January 2011 until January 2013, except for the winner of the 3rd District's special election, who will serve the few remaining weeks of the 111th Congress. As of 2023 this is the last time that the Democrats won more than 2 seats in Indianas house delegation .
Democrat Pete Visclosky has represented this district since 1985. The PVI is D+8. He faced Republican activist Mark Leyva and Libertarian candidate Jon Morris. Visclosky was endorsed by the Northwest Indiana Times and the Indianapolis Star.[3][4]
2010
Indiana's 1st Congressional District Election (2010)
Republican Mark Souder represented this district from 2003 until his resignation on May 18, 2010. Fellow Republican John McCain carried this district with 56% of the vote in the 2008 presidential election.[7]
In the Republican primary, car dealer Bob Thomas gave Souder a strong challenge in the primary. An April SurveyUSA poll showed Thomas within six percentage points of Souder. Other Republican candidates included attorney Phil Troyer and Tea Party activist Greg Dickman. Souder won the primary with 48% of the vote. He was to face Democrat Fort Wayne councilman Tom Hayhurst.
However, as Souder announced his resignation from Congress and his resignation as the Republican candidate for Congress on May 18, 2010, the Governor of Indiana set a date for a special election to be held concurrently with the general election in November. A caucus was to be held to choose the Republican candidate for the special election and the general election. The Republican caucus to choose the nominee was held on June 12, 2010. State Senator Marlin Stutzman was selected as the Republican nominee for both the special and general elections.
Republican Steve Buyer did not run for re-election. McCain carried the district with 56% of the vote. Todd Rokita, the Republican Secretary of State of Indiana, Republican State SenatorBrandt Hershman, Cheryl Denise Allen and Mark Seitz filed to run for Buyer's vacant seat.[11] Rokita won the primary and defeated Democrat David Sanders in the general election.
2010
Indiana's 4th Congressional District Election (2010)[12]
Republican Dan Burton has represented this district since 2003. John McCain carried 59% of the vote in 2008.[13]
Former Republican candidate Brose McVey, Indiana Republican Party Executive Director Luke Messer, State RepresentativeMike Murphy, and 2008 primary challenger John McGoff all formally announced their intention to run. Burton won the primary with just 30% of the vote. He faced Democrat Tim Crawford in the general election.[14]
Republican Mike Pence represented this district since 2003. In the 2008 presidential election, Republican nominee McCain carried the district with 52% of the vote. Pence faced Democratic nominee Barry Welsh,[15] a minister, and defeated him to keep his seat.
2010
Indiana's 6th Congressional District Election (2010)
Democrat André Carson has served since 2008. President Obama carried this district with 71% of the vote, considered safe or solid by most sources. He again faced perennial Republican candidate Marvin Scott, who took issue with Carson's Muslim faith during the general election.[16] However, Carson defeated Scott by a large margin to retain his seat.[17]
2010
Indiana's 7th Congressional District Election (2010)
This was an open seat as Democratic incumbent Brad Ellsworth ran (unsuccessfully) for the U.S. Senate. The Democratic nominee was lawyer and State Representative Trent Van Haaften. The Republican nominee was Larry Bucshon, president of Ohio Valley HeartCare.
Race profile, nytimes.com; accessed November 9, 2016.
Primaries
Five-term Congressman Democrat Baron Hill has won in the ninth district since 1998, except for in 2004, when he lost to Republican Mike Sodrel by 1,425 votes. Hill narrowly regained his seat from Sodrel in 2006 and won another race with Sodrel in 2008 by a wider margin. McCain carried the district with only 50% of the vote. In 2010, Sodrel sought another rematch, but lost to former Marine Captain and Orange County Deputy Prosecutor Todd Young in the Republican primary.[22][23] Independent Jerry Lucas, a nurse and army veteran, has also filed to run.[24][25] Greg Knott entered the race as the Libertarian Party candidate.
Prior to the campaign season, Hill came under increasing public pressure following the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. At public meetings, Hill had to be escorted by state police for his protection and had heated verbal exchanges with the public which made local news on several occasions and leading Hill to refuse to hold additional public meetings in person.[26]
General
Hill launched a series of campaign ads beginning in mid August questioning Young's intentions for the future of Social Security and highlighting a comment made by Young referring to it as a "Ponzi scheme".[27] Local media covering the debate questioned both candidates about their ads; Hill defended his support of healthcare, stimulus, and new regulatory legislation as the correct votes for the future of the country.
Young reconfirmed his position, stating Social Security was indeed a "Ponzi scheme" and needed reform to remain financially viable and called on Hill to explain his financial plans for the nation.[28]
The last week of August, the Young campaign began running ads on radio and television pointing out Hill's record of supporting spending legislation and calling on fiscal restraint in Congress. On the night of August 30, Young's Bloomington campaign headquarters were vandalized; the air conditioner was stolen, the phone and internet lines into the building were cut, the power disconnected.[27] The Young campaign requested that Hill participate in seven town hall style debates.[29] The first scheduled debate will be held October 18 at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater in Bloomington.[30]
In a post-primary June Public Opinion Strategies poll, Hill had a 41–33 lead over Young.[31] An August poll conducted by the Young campaign suggested only 37% of voters believed Hill deserved another term.[28] During the first week of September Real Clear Politics had the race rated as a toss-up.[25]
