2012 elections review: Lugar's defeat in U.S. Senate primary headlines Indiana primaries

May 9, 2012

By Ballotpedia's Congressional and State legislative teams

The big news out of Indiana was six-term United States Senator Richard Lugar's loss to state Treasurer Richard Mourdock in the Republican primary. The hard-fought battle was the first time Lugar had faced a primary challenge since 1976. Tea Party and national conservative groups poured millions of dollars into the campaign against Lugar, a moderate Republican who sometimes compromised with Democrats.

Contested Primaries in Indiana -- May 8, 2012
	U.S. House (9 seats)	State Legislature (125 seats)
Total Democratic Contested Primaries	8 (88.9%)	16 (12.8%)
Total Republican Contested Primaries	6 (66.7%)	35 (28%)

Congress

See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012 and United States Senate elections in Indiana, 2012

• Six incumbents ran for re-election to the U.S. House, and all six will proceed to the general election. Only two faced a primary opponent.
• In Indiana's 5th District, Susan Brooks narrowly defeated David McIntosh in the Republican primary. Amidst a crowded field of eight contenders, Brooks beat McIntosh by less than 1,000 votes. McIntosh may request a recount.
• In the 8th District, freshman Rep. Larry Bucshon defeated tea party-backed Kristi Risk. The two previously squared off in the 2008 primary.

Members of the U.S. House from Indiana -- Partisan Breakdown
Party		As of November 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	3	2
	Republican Party	6	7
Total		9	9

State legislatures

See also: Indiana State Senate elections, 2012 and Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2012

• All Senate and House incumbents who ran for re-election survived the primary and will go on to the general election. Five other states have held state legislative primaries this year - Indiana is the first where no incumbents were defeated.
• Open seats in District 24, District 34, and District 47 of the Indiana House were decided last night. All three districts held a single partisan primary, in essence virtually assuring the primary winner of gaining a seat in the legislature in November.
  • In District 24, Steve Braun defeated Kiefer Dobbs and Mindi Fisher McMillan in the Republican primary. He will run unopposed in the general election in November.
  • In District 34, Sue Errington defeated David Walker and Karen Brand in the Democratic primary. She will also run unopposed in the general election in November.
  • In District 47, John Price defeated John Young and Mark Meadows in the Republican primary, advancing him to the general election, where he will run unopposed.

• Numerous incumbents in the Indiana State Senate ran unopposed last night in their respective primaries. However, due to a lack of challengers filing to run opposite them in the general election, they will also run unopposed in the general election.
• District 7 incumbent Brandt Hershman (R), District 9 incumbent Ryan Mishler (R), District 33 incumbent Greg Taylor (D), District 34 incumbent Jean Breaux (R), District 42 incumbent Jean Leising (R), and District 44 incumbent Brent Steele (R) will all run unopposed for re-election in the general election in November.
• District 13 incumbent Susan Glick defeated challenger David Yarde in the Republican primary, advancing her to the general election where she will run unopposed for re-election.
• Incumbent Connie Lawson was appointed as the Indiana Secretary of State on March 16, 2012. It was too late for her to withdraw from the primary. Now that the primary has passed, Lawson will withdraw from the Senate race and a replacement candidate will be named via a caucus.

Indiana State Senate
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	13	13
	Republican Party	37	37
Total		50	50

Indiana House of Representatives
Party		As of November 5, 2012	After the 2012 Election
	Democratic Party	40	31
	Republican Party	60	69
Total		100	100

See also

• United States Senate elections in Indiana, 2012
• United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012
• Indiana State Senate elections, 2012
• Indiana House of Representatives elections, 2012