United States Senate elections in Indiana, 2012
 Indiana's 2012 elections: • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • Governor • Attorney General • Other executive offices • State Senate • State House |
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Joe Donnelly  |
Richard Lugar  |
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Tossup (Prior to election) |
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Joe Donnelly (D) won election to the U.S. Senate on November 6, 2012.[1]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
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Primary: Indiana has an open primary system, in which any registered voter can choose which party's primary to vote in, without having to be a member of that party.
Voter registration: Voters had to register to vote in the primary by April 9. For the general election, the voter registration deadline was October 9.[2]
- See also: Indiana elections, 2012
Incumbent: The election will fill the Class 1 Senate seat, which is currently held by Richard Lugar (R). First elected in 1976, Lugar ran for re-election in 2012, but lost to Richard Mourdock in the May 8 Republican primary.[3]
An October 2012 article in The Hill predicted both parties had an equal opportunity at holding control of the Senate after the November election. Specifically, three races were named that could cost the GOP control of the chamber -- Indiana, Massachusetts and Nevada.[4]
Candidates
Note: Election results were added on election night as races were called. Vote totals will be added when official election results are certified. For more information about Ballotpedia's election coverage plan, click here. If you find any errors in this list, please email: Geoff Pallay.
General election candidates
According to the website Daily Kos, this race was one of nine top-ballot 2012 races that contained Libertarian candidates who received more total votes than was the difference between the Democratic winner and the GOP runner-up. In this case, Andy Horning took in over 4,800 more votes than the number that separated Donnelly and Mourdock.[5]
May 8, 2012 primary results
Democratic Primary
- Joe Donnelly:207,715
U.S. Representative[6]
Republican primary
- Richard Lugar:261,285 Incumbent[7]
- Richard Mourdock:400,321 Indiana State Treasurer[8]
Libertarian party
- Andy Horning: Libertarian[9]
Independent candidates
Election Results
General Election
| U.S. Senate, Indiana, General Election, 2012 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Joe Donnelly |
50% | 1,281,181 | |
| Republican | Richard Mourdock | 44.3% | 1,133,621 | |
| Libertarian | Andy Horning | 5.7% | 145,282 | |
| Independent | James Johnson, Jr. | 0% | 15 | |
| Independent | Amy Willis | 0% | 3 | |
| Total Votes | 2,560,102 | |||
| Source: Indiana Secretary of State "United States Senate Election Results" | ||||
Republican Primary
| U.S. Senate-Indiana Republican Primary, 2012 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
|
Richard Mourdock |
60.5% | 400,321 |
| Richard Lugar Incumbent | 39.5% | 261,285 |
| Total Votes | 661,606 | |
According to a Smart Politics review of U.S. Senate election data, incumbent Richard Lugar's loss in the Indiana Republican primary election on May 8th made him "just the second six-term U.S. Senator - and the first Republican - to fail in his renomination bid in the direct election era of the past 100 years."[11]
Mourdock's victory was one of a Tea Party favorite over a long-standing Republican incumbent.[3]
The two candidates were running a close race, despite the fact that Indiana is seen as a Republican-leaning state. After the conservative Mourdock replaced the moderate Lugar as the republican candidate, democratic candidate Joe Donnelly stood a good chance at wining the seat. Lugar drew support from members of both parties, but Mourdock's tea-party background divides Indiana voters along party lines.[12]
On October 23, 2012, in a debate against opponent Joe Donnelly, Richard Mourdock, asked about his stance on abortion in the case of rape or incest, said "I struggled with it myself for a long time, but I came to realize that life is that gift from God. And, I think, even when life begins in that horrible situation of rape, that it is something that God intended to happen."[13] This remark caused New Hampshire republican senator Kelly Ayotte to withdraw her support of Mourdock and cancel her plans to campaign for him in the final weeks before the election.[14]
Residency challenges
Two Indiana voters filed an appeal March 6, 2012 in Marion County Superior Court asking for review of the denial of their challenges to Richard Lugar’s candidacy for the U.S. Senate by the Indiana Election Commission. [15] The appeal also seeks an injunction to prohibit election officials from printing ballots for the upcoming May 8 primary until the case is resolved. The challengers plan to ask for expedited consideration of their appeal by the courts.[16]
The Election Commission hearing confirmed that Lugar sold his residence in Indiana in 1977 and moved to Virginia.[16] Since then, he has maintained no physical residence in the state of Indiana. The U.S. Constitution requires, in relevant part, that a Senator must be an “inhabitant” of their state.[16]
Lugar's attorneys and the Commission relied heavily on Lugar's stated intent to someday return to Indiana, and letters from the Indiana Attorney General stating that Senator Lugar could continue voting in Indiana without an actual residence in Indiana.[16]
Election law violations
In April 2012, Richard Mourdock's Senate campaign came under scrutiny after allegations that Mourdock's state campaign used funds to aid his federal U.S. Senate campaign, a violation of federal election law.[17] This comes after a legal analysis conducted for the Lugar campaign and a complaint sent to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) by former Rushville, Indiana mayor and former Rush County Republican Chairman John McCane.[17]
The complaint states that Mourdock "accessed voter information through his state committee, transferred the information to his federal committee and then used the information to send mass communications to voters through his federal committee."[17] Mourdock's state campaign accessed the information through the Party's computer database in January 2011, then transferred the information to his federal Senate campaign in February 2011 at time of his candidacy announcement to communicate with mass numbers of voters, and since has continued to use the information.[17]
Federal law specifically prohibits "transfers of funds or assets from a candidate's campaign committee or account for a nonfederal election to his or her principal campaign committee or other authorized committee for a federal election."[17]
Richard Mourdock
Lugar's opponent Richard Mourdock was endorsed by both the Club for Growth on February 14, 2012[18][19] and the National Rifle Association on March 7, 2012.[20] The Family Research Council PAC endorsed Mourdock on January 31, 2012.[21] Indiana's Tea Party has also endorsed Mourdock.[22] Mourdock received an endorsement from the Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund.[23] Sarah Palin announced her endorsement of Republican challenger Richard Mourdock over incumbent Senator Richard Lugar on April 27, 2012..[24] On May 2, 2012 Mourdock received endorsements from Michele Bachmann and Grover Norquist, of Americans for Tax Reform.[25]
Richard Lugar
On April 24, 2012, Republican incumbent Richard Lugar received endorsement from Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.[26] On April 29, 2012 Lugar received endorsement from The Indianapolis Star Editorial Board.[27] Lugar has also received endorsements from Lieutenant Governor Becky Skillman on April 4, 2012,[28] Indiana Chamber of Commerce,[29] Indiana Manufacturer’s Association,[29] Hamilton County GOP Leaders, [29] Elkhart County Commissioners,[29] National Defense PAC,[29] Dr. Condoleezza Rice,[29] Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, [30] Former Secretary of State George Schultz,[31] The Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA) on April 29, 2012,[32] the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on April 7, 2012,[33] Arizona Senator John McCain,[34] and numerous former and current mayors.[35]
On April 27, 2012, a major political supporter of Lugar's campaign announced it would be pulling out support. The PAC American Action Network began by pulling television advertisements, and made the statement that it would let the race "play out."[36] As of March 31, the PAC had spent more than $312,000 on ads backing Lugar.[36]
- See also: Super PACs
According to information compiled by Center for Responsive Politics, as of May 7, 2012 super PACs spent approximately $2.5 million in the race between incumbent Richard Lugar and challenger Indiana Treasurer Richard Mourdock.[37]
According to the Center for Public Integrity Super PACs and other outside groups are on track to spend more on challenger Richard Mourdock in his campaign to unseat Lugar than Mourdock’s own campaign.[38] As of the most recent campaign filings available to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) prior to the primary election on May 8, outside groups supportive of Mourdock have spent "about $3 million, $1 million more than Mourdock’s own campaign."[38]
Cook Political Report
Each month the Cook Political Report releases race ratings for President, U.S. Senate, U.S. House (competitive only) and Governors. There are seven possible designations: [39]
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Solid Democratic
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Tossup |
Lean Republican
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| Cook Political Report Race Rating -- Indiana Senate | |
|---|---|
| Month | Rating |
| November 1, 2012[40] | |
| October 4, 2012[41] | |
| September 13, 2012[42] | |
| August 21, 2012[43] | |
| July 12, 2012[44] | |
| May 31, 2012[45] | |
| May 10, 2012[46] | |
| March 22, 2012[47] | |
| March 1, 2012[48] | |
| January 26, 2012[49] | |
| December 22, 2011[50] | |
| December 1, 2011[51] | |
2012
| U.S. Senate in Indiana, General election candidates | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Response | Rasmussen Reports July 31-August 1, 2012 | Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group August 9-12, 2012 | Rasmussen Reports October 10-11, 2012 | Pharos Research Group (October 26-28, 2012) | Rasmussen Reports November 1, 2012 | Average | ||||||||
| Richard Mourdock | 42% | 43% | 47% | 46% | 42% | 44% | ||||||||
| Joe Donnelly | 40% | 45% | 42% | 47% | 45% | 43.8% | ||||||||
| Other candidate | 3% | 0% | 2% | 0% | 6% | 2.2% | ||||||||
| Undecided | 15% | 12% | 8% | 0% | 6% | 8.2% | ||||||||
| Number polled | 400 | 601 | 600 | 753 | 600 | 590.8 | ||||||||
| Margin of error | +/-5 | +/-4% | +/-4% | +/-3.5% | +/-4% | 4.1% | ||||||||
| Note: The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to editor@ballotpedia.org | ||||||||||||||
2012
| Joe Donnelly (2012)[52] Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| April Quarterly[53] | April 13, 2012 | $846,956.03 | $213,630.88 | $(298,392.74) | $861,194.17 | ||||
| Pre-Primary[54] | April 26, 2012 | $861,194.17 | $25,340.12 | $(85,434.32) | $801,099.97 | ||||
| July Quarterly[55] | July 15, 2012 | $801,099.17 | $897,449.45 | $(318,250.82) | $1,380,298.60 | ||||
| October Quarterly[56] | October 15, 2012 | $1,380,298.60 | $155,474.43 | $(199,636.57) | $936,136.46 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $1,291,894.88 | $(901,714.45) | ||||||||
According to a July 9, 2012 Roll Call report, Donnelly raised $900,000 in the second quarter and had $1.3 million dollars cash-on-hand at the end of the cycle.[57] Donnelly's opponent in the general election, Richard Mourdock, reportedly raised $1.6 million dollars in the second quarter and had only $889,000 cash on hand at the end of the cycle.[58]
Donnelly raised over $1.55 million in the third quarter and has $936,000 cash on hand. 77% of donations were under $50 and 89% were under $100.[59]
| Richard Mourdock (2012)[60] Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
| April Quarterly[61] | April 19, 2012 | $362,699.28 | $879,731.58 | $(806,426.22) | $436,004.64 | ||||
| Pre-Primary[62] | April 23, 2012 | $436,004.64 | $111,489.17 | $(292,300.65) | $255,193.16 | ||||
| July Quarterly[63] | July 15, 2012 | $255,193.16 | $1,771,400.41 | $(1,135,796.69) | $890,796.88 | ||||
| Running totals | |||||||||
| $2,762,621.16 | $(2,234,523.56) | ||||||||
Mourdock has raised over $3 million in campaign donations during the third quarter according to a campaign aide.[64]
2010
On November 2, 2010, Dan Coats won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Brad Ellsworth (D), Rebecca Sink-Burris (L), Jim Miller (I), and Jack Rooney (I) in the general election.[65]
| U.S. Senate, Indiana General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Dan Coats |
54.6% | 952,116 | |
| Democratic | Brad Ellsworth | 40% | 697,775 | |
| Libertarian | Rebecca Sink-Burris | 5.4% | 94,330 | |
| Independent | Jim Miller | 0% | 161 | |
| Independent | Jack Rooney | 0% | 99 | |
| Total Votes | 1,744,481 | |||
2006
On November 7, 2006, Lugar won re-election to the United States Senate. He defeated Steve Osborn (L), Mark Pool (I), and Jack H. Baldwin (I) in the general election.[66]
| U.S. Senate, Indiana General Election, 2006 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Republican | Richard Lugar Incumbent |
87.4% | 1,171,553 | |
| Libertarian | Steve Osborn | 12.6% | 168,820 | |
| Independent | Mark Pool | 0% | 444 | |
| Independent | Jack H. Baldwin | 0% | 294 | |
| Total Votes | 1,341,111 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012
- United States Senate elections, 2012
External links
- Joe Donnelly campaign website
- Dick Lugar campaign website
- Richard Mourdock campaign website
- Andy Horning campaign website
- Primary Election Candidates 2012
References
- ↑ Politico "2012 Election Map, Indiana"
- ↑ Indiana Elections Division "2012 Calendar Brochure," Accessed July 24, 2012
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 New York Times Caucus blog "Indiana’s Lugar Loses Republican Senate Primary," May 8, 2012
- ↑ The Hill "Opinion: Republicans facing longer odds in bid to gain Senate control," October 8, 2012
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Libertarians provided the margin for Democrats and at least nine elections," November 15, 2012
- ↑ Los Angeles Times "Democrat Joe Donnelly sets sights on Indiana Senate seat," Accessed January 5, 2012
- ↑ The Hill "Lugar's Senate race could put Mitch Daniels, Mike Pence in tough spot," Accessed January 5, 2012
- ↑ Huffington Post "Richard Lugar Opponent Richard Mourdock Slams Indiana Senator As Clueless," Accessed January 5, 2012
- ↑ Libertarian Party of Indiana "Andy Horning Announces Bid for US Senate in 2012," September 16, 2011
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Indiana Election Division "2012 General Election Candidates," Accessed August 15, 2012
- ↑ University of Minnesota Smart Politics "Lugar Could Become Just 2nd 6-Term Senator to Lose Renomination Bid in 100 Years" Accessed May 7, 2012
- ↑ New York Times "As Senate Race in Indiana Tightens, Candidates Seem to Move to Center" Accessed October 22, 2012
- ↑ USA Today " Mourdock stands by rape comment" Accessed October 24, 2012
- ↑ Boston.com "Ayotte cancels event with IN's Mourdock" Accessed October 24, 2012
- ↑ WIBC "Lugar Residency Challenge Heads to Court" Accessed March 8, 2012
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 16.3 Election Law Blog " Appeal Filed in Lugar Residency Case Voters Challenge State Election Commission Ruling in Court" Accessed March 8, 2012
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 17.4 Richard Lugar for Senate "Mourdock Likely Violated Federal Election Law:State Treasurer's alleged "pillaging" of Indiana GOP database raises serious legal questions" Accessed April 24, 2012
- ↑ Washington Post "Sen. Richard Lugar next target of Club for Growth" Accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ National Review "It’s Time to Bring Lugar Home" Accessed February 23, 2012
- ↑ The Hill "National Rifle Association will endorse Lugar challenger Wednesday" Accessed March 8, 2012
- ↑ FRC Action "FRC Action PAC endorses Richard Mourdock for U.S. Senate" Accessed April 27, 2012
- ↑ USA Today "A look ahead to the key races in the Midwest in 2012" Accessed March 12, 2012
- ↑ Gun Owners of America Political Victory Fund "Mourdock" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Huffington Post "Sarah Palin Endorses Richard Mourdock In Indiana U.S. Senate Primary" Accessed April 27, 2012
- ↑ CNN Political Ticket "Bachmann Norquist Endorse Mourdock" Accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ AbcNews "Richard Mourdock downplays Mitch Daniels' Lugar endorsement in Indiana Senate race" Accessed April 26, 2012
- ↑ WTHR "Lugar gets Indianapolis State Endorsement for Senate" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Dick Lugar for Senate "Skillman Indianas Future Needs Dick Lugar" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ 29.0 29.1 29.2 29.3 29.4 29.5 Dick Lugar "Endorsements" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ WISH TV "Haley Barbour Endorses Dick Lugar" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Dick Lugar for Senate "George Schultz Endorses Dick Lugar" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Dick Lugar "Forest Products Industry to Endorse Lugar on Arbor Day" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ US Chamber.com "U.S. Chamber Endorses Lugar for Senate" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ CNN Political Ticker "Bachmann Norquist Endorse Mourdock" Accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ Dick Lugar "Indiana Republican Mayors Endorse Lugar" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ 36.0 36.1 IndyStar "Pro Lugar Special Interest Group Pulling Out of Indiana Race" Accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ TP Muckraker "Super PACs Already Spending Big On State Level Races" Accessed May 8, 2012
- ↑ 38.0 38.1 iWatchNews "Super PACs outspend favorite candidate in Indiana Senate race" Accessed May 8, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "Our Accuracy," Accessed December 12, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," November 1, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," October 4, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," September 13, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," August 21, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," July 12, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," May 31, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," May 10, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 22, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," March 1, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," January 26, 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 27, 2011
- ↑ Cook Political Report "2012 SENATE RACE RATINGS," December 1, 2011
- ↑ FEC Reports "Joe Donnelly Summary Report" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "April Quarterly" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "Pre-Primary" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "Donnelly July Quarterly" Accessed October 22, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "Donnelly Quarterly Quarterly" Accessed October 22, 2012
- ↑ Roll Call "Indiana: Richard Mourdock Bests Joe Donnelly in 2nd-Quarter Fundraising" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ Twitter "Eric Bradner" Accessed July 17, 2012
- ↑ Joe Donnelly's campaign website, "Donnelly Raises over $1.5 Million from Grassroots Supporters,"
- ↑ FEC Reports "Richard Mourdock Summary Reports" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "April Quarterly" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "Mourdock Pre-Primary" Accessed July 11, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports "Mourdock July Quarterly" Accessed October 22, 2012
- ↑ Politico, "Richard Mourdock rakes in $3 million in Indiana Senate race," October 10, 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006"
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