Indiana's 4th Congressional District election (May 8, 2018 Republican primary)
- General election: Nov. 6
- Voter registration deadline: Oct. 9
- Early voting: Oct. 10 - Nov. 5
- Absentee voting deadline: Nov. 6
- Online registration: Yes
- Same-day registration: No
- Voter ID: Photo ID required
- Poll times: 6:00 am to 6:00 pm local time
2020 →
← 2016
|
Indiana's 4th Congressional District |
---|
Democratic primary Republican primary General election |
Election details |
Filing deadline: February 9, 2018 |
Primary: May 8, 2018 General: November 6, 2018 Pre-election incumbent: Todd Rokita (Republican) |
How to vote |
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voting in Indiana |
Race ratings |
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican |
Ballotpedia analysis |
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018 |
See also |
U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th Indiana elections, 2018 U.S. Congress elections, 2018 U.S. Senate elections, 2018 U.S. House elections, 2018 |
State Rep. Jim Baird won the May 8, 2018, Republican primary election for Indiana's 4th Congressional District with 36.6 percent of the vote. Former state Rep. Steve Braun received 29.5 percent of the vote, while businessman Diego Morales received 15 percent.[1]
Four-term incumbent Rep. Todd Rokita (R) ran in the Republican Senate primary for a chance to challenge Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) rather than seeking re-election to the 4th District, leaving his U.S. House seat open.[2]
Braun and Morales emphasized their connections to former governor and sitting Vice President Mike Pence (R). Braun served as Pence's director of workforce development, while Morales was an advisor and director of community relations in the governor's office.[3][4]
On the campaign trail, both Braun and Morales made the case that they had the strongest tie to the Pence administration. Braun denied having knowledge of Morales' role in the administration at all during his time working for Pence in an interview with the IndyStar.[5] According to Morales, he was "the only candidate who can call the White House and get an answer."[6]
State Rep. Jim Baird (R) emphasized his military background and economic positions in his run for the seat. Although he did not emphasize connections to Mike Pence (R), Baird joined Braun and Morales in his support for President Trump (R), saying that the president "needs reinforcements to pass his America First agenda and drain the swamp" in a Facebook biography.[7]
Indiana's 4th congressional district, located in the western portion of the state, had been represented by a Republican since the 1994 elections. Since 2000, the narrowest margin of victory for a Republican candidate in the district was the 19.8 percent margin by which Rep. Steve Buyer (R) defeated challenger Nels Ackerson (D) in 2008.
Indiana voter? Dates you need to know. | |
---|---|
Primary election | May 8, 2018 |
Candidate filing deadline | February 9, 2018 |
Registration deadline | April 9, 2018 |
Absentee application deadline | April 30, 2018 |
General election | November 6, 2018 |
Voting information | |
Primary type | Open |
Polling locations: Go to this page to find early voting locations and your assigned precinct for election day. |
For more on related elections, please see:
- Indiana's 4th Congressional District election (May 8, 2018 Democratic primary)
- Indiana's 4th Congressional District election, 2018
- United States House Democratic Party primaries, 2018
- United States House Republican Party primaries, 2018
- Democratic Party primaries in Indiana, 2018
- Republican Party primaries in Indiana, 2018
Candidates and election results
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 4 on May 8, 2018.
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 4
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
✔ | ![]() | Jim Baird | 36.6 | 29,319 |
![]() | Steve Braun | 29.5 | 23,602 | |
Diego Morales | 15.0 | 11,997 | ||
![]() | Jared Thomas | 10.5 | 8,435 | |
![]() | Kevin Grant | 4.6 | 3,667 | |
![]() | James Nease | 2.6 | 2,097 | |
![]() | Tim Radice | 1.3 | 1,013 |
Total votes: 80,130 | ||||
![]() | ||||
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. |
Top candidates
Each of the following top candidates had reported at least $100,000 in fundraising as of the filing deadline.
Jim Baird
Baird was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2010. At the start of the 2017 legislative session, Baird served on the Agriculture and Rural Development, Veterans Affairs and Public Safety, and Ways and Means committees.
In his October 2017 announcement that he would seek the seat, Baird said that he was motivated by "a tremendous need for a common sense approach to fix the broken system in Washington."[8] Baird's campaign website argued that "we have real challenges facing our country and the career politicians in Washington have failed the American people with all talk and no action. President Trump needs reinforcements to pass his America First agenda and drain the swamp. I will stand with the President and fight to end the political class’ grip on power in Washington."[9]
Steve Braun
Braun was first elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2012. He resigned his seat in the House in 2014 after Gov. Mike Pence (R) nominated him to lead the state's Department of Workforce Development.
In his September 2017 announcement that he would seek the seat, Braun said that his run was motivated by a desire "to continue to use my experience creating thousands of private sector jobs to serve my community and country."[10] Braun's campaign website described him as "the conservative leader Donald Trump needs to put America first."[11] The website highlighted Braun's positions on abortion, firearms regulations, and immigration.
Diego Morales
A businessman who had served as a senior advisor to former Gov. Mike Pence (R) and as director of intergovernmental relations for the Indiana Secretary of State, Morales had not previously held elected office.
In his August 2017 campaign announcement, Morales argued that "my fellow Hoosiers want someone with an understanding of national security who shares their conservative values and is guided by faith." Morales added that "as an Army veteran, I will stand firm in supporting President Trump and Vice President Pence’s vision for a stronger America where our families can grow and prosper."[12] On his campaign website, Morales described his vision as "to help Indiana's citizens and businesses be successful" and argued that his "commitment to innovation and [his] business experience will help us find new, more-efficient ways to govern and to help everyone discover his or her own American Dream."[13]
List of all candidates
Republican primary candidates
Campaign themes and policy stances
Jim Baird
“ | There is a tremendous need for a common sense approach to fix the broken system in Washington. We need new leaders in Washington who will stand up for West Central Indiana and actually get things done for the American people. I want every American to have the opportunity to enjoy success, prosperity and freedom. A limited government approach, rooted in constitutional principles, will be what preserves the American dream for the next generation of this wonderful country. I look forward to listening to the concerns of my fellow citizens in District 4 and the opportunity to win grassroots support throughout West Central Indiana. |
” |
—Elect Jim Baird[15] |
Steve Braun
“ |
Pro-life Second amendment Immigration Jobs & Economy National Security Defense of our Allies Fighting Terrorism Veterans Tax Reform Health Care Government Spending Education Social Security State's Rights Agriculture |
” |
—Steve Braun for Congress[16] |
Kevin Grant
“ |
Abortion
Budget & Economy
Civil Rights
Corporations
Drugs
Foreign Policy
Free Trade
Gun Control
Health Care
Homeland Security
Immigration
Religion
Principles & Values
Same Sex Marriage
Social Security
Tax Reform
|
” |
—Kevin Grant[17] |
Diego Morales
“ | I’m proud to be a 21st century Hoosier-American. I am fortunate to call Indiana "my home" and to know all Hoosiers as "my neighbors." For me, living the American Dream in the Great Hoosier State is a privilege that I never take for granted and it brings with it a duty to serve. From my service in the U.S. Army to my vast and varied experience in the private and public sectors, I've gained insight into who we are as Americans - and what we need to do to create opportunities within our state and our local communities. My vision is to help Indiana's citizens and businesses be successful. My values reflect those of Hoosiers across the state. My commitment to innovation and my business experience will help us find new, more-efficient ways to govern and to help everyone discover his or her own American Dream. I look to you to guide me as I explore how best to serve you and our great state.[14] |
” |
—Diego Morales for Congress, "My Inspiration," accessed May 4, 2018 |
Tim Radice
“ |
Job Growth and Economics
How I will aid job growth and how it affects our district
Pro life and traditional values
How I will support pro life values and how this will affect our district
Protecting our right to bear arms
How I will defend your gun rights and how it affects our district
Border security and immigration
How I will reform immigration and how it affects our district
Healthcare reform
How I will reform healthcare and how it affects our district
Veterans and military spending We must address veteran unemployment, mental healthcare, and retirement. We must end nation building and let only Congress declare war as by the Constitution. How I will support our veterans and military and how it affects our district
Free speech
How I will protect free speech and how it affects our district
We must never forget the abuse of our speech during the 2016 election cycle. Education reform
How I will reform education and how it affects our district
Federal spending and Social Security
How I will help reduce federal spending and how it affects our district
Farming and agriculture
How I will help Indiana farmers and how it affects our district
Government abuse
How I will fight government corruption and how it affects our district
|
” |
—Tim Radice for Congress[18] |
Jared Thomas
“ |
Term limits National security Veterans issues Jobs & Economy That said, Indiana sets the standard for sound fiscal policy in the United States with an AAA credit rating and an actual budget surplus. While other states are raising taxes to keep up with mounting debt, Indiana continues to make smart financial choices. Put simply, we need to replicate this model for the rest of the nation. A welcoming tax environment and less regulation will incentivize businesses to move to Indiana, and hardworking Hoosiers will keep them here. I support Governor Holcomb’s “Next Level Roads Plan.” As the “Crossroads of America,” Indiana should lead the nation in quality, maintenance, and efficiency of infrastructure, and the federal government should support us in that endeavor. Infrastructure initiatives also provide the opportunity to create jobs for Hoosiers that need them, and I intend to support legislation that does exactly that. Agriculture Justice & equality America has left behind, outsourced, and drained economic opportunity (both in Rural America and in our inner cities) in favor of foreign workers. We are witnessing a decimating opioid epidemic, a breakdown of family structure, and conflicts with law enforcement in cities throughout the country. Providing new economic opportunities is the first and most important goal that our government should be working towards. Innovating—just as Hoosiers continue to do—is how we will bridge that gap and find the solutions to our current economic challenges. In order to get there, the best thing government can begin to do is reduce the strain on job producers with burdensome taxes and unnecessary regulations dictated from Washington. As a country, we also need to take a good, hard look at the way some of the laws created in the mid-1900s regarding housing, education, and the justice system in general, are still negatively impacting large groups of Americans today. Opioid epidemic Patients are over-prescribed and under-educated. This problem, of course, dates back to some false advertising by "Big Pharma" when pain pills first began being actively prescribed. One recent study found that only 62% of patients were even instructed about pain management strategies that did not involve drugs. Shockingly high numbers aren't even aware of the addictive nature of the drugs. Furthermore, while our country’s talented, caring, and dedicated doctors are now well-aware of the problems posed by opioid prescription, this wasn’t the case until fairly recently. Decades ago, one doctor performed a study on only patients under his care in his hospital. He carefully monitored their dosage and concluded that a negligible number of patients under carefully supervised care showed signs of addiction. This was one sentence in one report. A renowned medical journal published that one sentence. It was accepted as gospel. It made its way into every single medical textbook, and was taught to every single medical student for multiple decades. Perhaps one of the quickest fixes in terms of prevention, is to ensure that patients with musculoskeletal issues are referred to a physical therapist as opposed to seeing a primary care physician (who doesn't specialize in that area and may be more inclined to prescribe drugs for pain management as opposed to therapy). The military employs many physical therapists, and we were almost always referred to one for therapy before drugs were even considered. We can take this one step farther by removing the need for a physician's referral and allowing patients direct access to physical therapists. This is unfortunately only one aspect of the problem, however, and we still need to find a way to get our brothers and sisters that are currently addicted back on track and healthy. Governor Holcomb takes this complex and challenging issue extremely seriously, setting a goal for treatment facilities to be within one hour of every single Hoosier. As with so many other initiatives, Indiana is leading the charge to combat this issue and to implement the creative measures necessary to solve this problem. We also need to tackle the corporatization of the black tar heroin trade and find a "best practice" for attacking that complex issue. The vast majority of the heroin peddled in this country comes from just one city in Mexico: Xalisco, Nayarit. This is a three-part problem: 1) Opioid Addiction Prevention 2) Opioid Addiction Treatment/Recovery 3) Combatting the flawless corporatization of the heroin trade” 2nd Amendment That said, those affected by the tragedies our country has faced are tired of hearing mere condolences. They want action, and these extremely complex and emotionally-charged issues cannot be solved by Republicans or Democrats alone. Issues like this one require the complete cooperation of both parties, as this affects all of us. One of the unfortunate aspects of this debate is that the overwhelming majority of responsible Hoosier gun owners feel vilified in times like these. Hoosiers that practice safe gun ownership—using their guns for sport and for home defense—are being attacked as viciously as the deranged individuals that commit these atrocities. The vast majority of Hoosiers have done no wrong and have committed no crime. They have merely exercised their Constitutional right to bear arms. Given these recent tragedies, now is not a time to step away from this challenge. I believe there is a way to protect the American public—especially our children—by reviewing, revising, and enacting sensible gun laws (such as expanding and enhancing our background check programs), while still preserving our 2nd Amendment rights. This cannot end with a simple review of our gun laws, however. We need to undertake an education campaign that works with our communities to arm them with the information necessary to identify the warning signs of individuals who may be on the verge of committing these atrocities. We need to work to destigmatize mental illness and treat it for what it is—a disease. We need to work with our medical communities to provide them with the resources necessary to effectively treat people with mental illness. We need to work with our schools to ensure they are safe places for our kids to grow physically and mentally. Our teachers, guidance counselors, and administrators need to receive continual education to recognize and respond to at-risk groups within the student population. We need to effectively deal with bullying, and help foster a school community that seeks to reduce the chances for individual students to become isolated and radicalized in their thinking. This complex issue requires a societal approach that includes so much more than gun laws. Elected leaders should not be hesitant to tackle this problem. We must do something now—the future of our country and the safety of our children demand action. Abortion However, the landmark case of Roe v. Wade made abortions legal across this country and gave women the right to choose. In Indiana, we took this decision in stride, and set our sights on helping as many women as possible choose life. Our focus has shifted to sex education and pregnancy prevention, and our state legislators have ensured that women seeking an abortion are well-informed about all other options available to them, such as adoption. Our informed consent brochure shows a fetus at various stages of a pregnancy and explains the risks and complications that sometimes come with an abortion procedure. Finally, abortion providers in Indiana are required to offer the mother the opportunity to view an ultrasound and listen to the child's heartbeat, if possible. As a result, Indiana's abortion rate has dropped for eight consecutive years, down to 7,277 in 2016 compared to 16,505 in 1980. Statistics show that abortion rates in countries where abortions are illegal are relatively the same as in countries where they are legal, indicating that banning the procedure does very little to prevent women from seeking it. Additionally, the mortality rate of mothers receiving abortions in countries where it is illegal is significantly higher. Indiana acknowledges the pro-choice ruling of the United States Supreme Court, but remains committed to leading the way in the effort to fight for the rights of the unborn by empowering women to choose life. So will I. [14] |
” |
—Jared Thomas for Congress[19] |
Policy stances
Immigration
Jim Baird: "I think we gotta have compassion for those young people who came into the country,” said Baird, speaking of the children who came to the United States without any choice about immigrating. “There are some proposals that deserve some merit, including ways that propose that we let those folks earn the right to citizenship. And those have been proposed since 2001 and I think those deserve additional review."[20]
Steve Braun: "President Trump needs conservative leaders to help him put America first. That includes shutting down illegal immigration and securing our borders. We are a nation of immigrants, and the diverse makeup of our social fabric has contributed to America’s greatness for over 240 years. Unfortunately, our immigration system has become dysfunctional and jeopardizes the safety of the law-abiding people who live here legally. We must secure our borders to end the influx of illegal immigrants and drugs that pour across our southern border. I support President Donald Trump’s efforts to ensure that current immigration laws are enforced. Immigration reform is a complex issue, and it is vital to our national interests that we fix this broken system."[21]
Diego Morales: "I respect the rule of law, and if DACA recipients want a chance at the American Dream, they need to get back at the back of the line and apply for citizenship...Just exactly, the way I did it."[20]
Endorsements
Republican candidate endorsements | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Endorsement | Date | Braun | Morales | Baird |
State figures | ||||
State Sen. Rick Niemeyer (R)[22] | April 25, 2018 | ✔ | ||
State Rep. Heath VanNatter (R)[22] | April 25, 2018 | ✔ | ||
State Rep. Sharon Negele (R)[23] | March 6, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Former state Sen. Brandt Hershman (R)[24] | February 22, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Former state Rep. Randy Truitt (R)[24] | February 22, 2018 | ✔ | ||
State Sen. Randy Head (R)[25] | January 17, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Former state Sen. Tom Weatherwax (R)[25] | January 17, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Former state Rep. Rich McClain (R)[25] | January 17, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Former Republican Party of Indiana Chairman Rex Early[26] | Unknown | ✔ | ||
Local figures | ||||
Kokomo Councilman Tim Miklik[22] | April 25, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Frankfort Mayor Chris McBarnes[22] | April 25, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Hendricks County Commissioner Matt Whetstone[27] | March 15, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Hendricks County Councilor Caleb Brown[27] | March 15, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Hendricks County Councilor Jay Puckett[27] | March 15, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Tippecanoe County Commissioner Tom Murtaugh (R)[24] | February 22, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Organizations | ||||
Indiana Farm Bureau Elect PAC[28] | April 26, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Indiana Chamber of Commerce[29] | April 17, 2018 | ✔ | ||
Indiana Right to Life[30] | April 2, 2018 | ✔ | ||
With Honor[31] | March 15, 2018 | ✔ | ||
SikhsPAC[32] | Unknown | ✔ |
Campaign finance
The table below contains data from FEC Quarterly April 2018 reports with information on all funds raised and spent since the beginning of the 2017-2018 campaign cycle on January 1, 2017. It includes only candidates who had reported at least $10,000 in campaign contributions as of March 31, 2018.
Satellite spending
Citizens for a Strong America
As of May 4, 2018, Citizens for a Strong America reported spending $227,188 in opposition to the candidacy of Diego Morales (R).[33] The organization sent out mailers in the weeks leading up to the campaign which disputed Morales' statements about his previous work experience, including his time working for then-Gov. Mike Pence (R).[34]
Citizens for a Strong America was founded in 2017 by former Donald Trump campaign staffer James Johnson.[35] Its mission is "to provide Republican candidates with a ready to go professional door to door canvasing team."[36]
Campaign tactics and strategies
Campaign advertisements
Steve Braun
Support
|
|
Diego Morales
Support
|
|
|
Online presence
May 7, 2018
The following social media statistics were compiled on May 7, 2018.
Candidate | Followers | Likes | Comments on Last Ten Posts | Followers | Following | Tweets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
5,605 | 5,175 | 18 | 314 | 137 | 484 |
![]() |
7,552 | 7,541 | 8 | 597 | 386 | 225 |
![]() |
5,312 | 5,282 | 6 | 2,338 | 2,261 | 6,149 |
![]() |
9,881 | 9,919 | 104 | 956 | 995 | 1,055 |
April 9, 2018
The following social media statistics were compiled on April 9, 2018.
Candidate | Followers | Likes | Comments on Last Ten Posts | Followers | Following | Tweets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
5,072 | 5,501 | 35 | 296 | 138 | 456 |
![]() |
7,527 | 7,535 | 31 | 595 | 377 | 166 |
![]() |
5,212 | 5,191 | 17 | 2,288 | 2,270 | 6,052 |
![]() |
8,768 | 8,737 | 14 | 933 | 993 | 1,016 |
March 10, 2018
The following social media statistics were compiled on March 10, 2018.
Candidate | Followers | Likes | Comments on Last Ten Posts | Followers | Following | Tweets |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
5,185 | 4,758 | 128 | 284 | 135 | 439 |
![]() |
7,142 | 7,148 | 6 | 563 | 372 | 136 |
![]() |
5,149 | 5,136 | 16 | 2,212 | 2,278 | 6,005 |
Tweets by Jim Baird Tweets by Steve Braun Tweets by Diego Morales Tweets by Jared Thomas
Race ratings
- See also: Race rating definitions and methods
Race ratings: Indiana's 4th Congressional District election, 2018 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Race tracker | Race ratings | ||||||||
October 30, 2018 | October 23, 2018 | October 16, 2018 | October 9, 2018 | ||||||
The Cook Political Report | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | Solid Republican | |||||
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | Safe Republican | |||||
Note: Ballotpedia updates external race ratings every two weeks throughout the election season. |
Timeline
- March 24, 2018: The seven candidates who filed for the primary appear at a candidate forum in Lafayette.[37]
District election history
2016
Heading into the election, Ballotpedia rated this race as safely Republican. Incumbent Todd Rokita (R) defeated John Dale (D) and Steven Mayoras (L) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Rokita withdrew from the race on July 15, 2016, in order to run for governor of Indiana following a ballot vacancy. Rokita was not chosen to fill that vacancy, prompting him to once again seek re-election to his House seat. Republican committee members decided on August 13 to reinstate Rokita on the ballot.[38] Rokita defeated Kevin Grant in the Republican primary.[39][40][41][42]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
64.6% | 193,412 | |
Democratic | John Dale | 30.5% | 91,256 | |
Libertarian | Steven Mayoras | 4.9% | 14,766 | |
Total Votes | 299,434 | |||
Source: Indiana Division of Elections |
Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() |
69.3% | 86,051 | ||
Kevin Grant | 30.7% | 38,200 | ||
Total Votes | 124,251 | |||
Source: Indiana Secretary of State |
2014
The 4th Congressional District of Indiana held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 4, 2014. Incumbent Todd Rokita (R) defeated challenger John Dale (D) in the general election.
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
66.9% | 94,998 | |
Democratic | John Dale | 33.1% | 47,056 | |
Total Votes | 142,054 | |||
Source: Indiana Secretary of State Official Results |
General election candidates
Todd Rokita - Incumbent
John Dale
May 6, 2014, primary results
|
2012
The 4th Congressional District of Indiana held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012, in which incumbent Todd Rokita (R) won re-election. He defeated Tara Nelson (D) and Benjamin J. Gehlhausen (L) in the general election.[44]
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Republican | ![]() |
62% | 168,688 | |
Democratic | Tara Nelson | 34.2% | 93,015 | |
Libertarian | Benjamin J. Gehlhausen | 3.9% | 10,565 | |
Total Votes | 272,268 | |||
Source: Indiana Secretary of State "House of Representatives Election Results" |
2010
On November 2, 2010, Todd Rokita won election to the United States House. He defeated David Sanders (D) and John Duncan (L) in the general election.[45]
2008
On November 4, 2008, Steve Buyer won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Nels Ackerson (D) in the general election.[46]
U.S. House, Indiana District 4 General Election, 2008 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
59.9% | 192,526 | |
Democratic | Nels Ackerson | 40.1% | 129,038 | |
Total Votes | 321,564 |
2006
On November 7, 2006, Steve Buyer won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Sanders (D) in the general election.[47]
U.S. House, Indiana District 4 General Election, 2006 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
Republican | ![]() |
62.4% | 111,057 | |
Democratic | David Sanders | 37.6% | 66,986 | |
Total Votes | 178,043 |
2004
On November 2, 2004, Steve Buyer won re-election to the United States House. He defeated David Sanders (D) and Kevin R. Fleming (L) in the general election.[48]
2002
On November 5, 2002, Steve Buyer won election to the United States House. He defeated Bill Abbott (D) and Jerry L. Susong (L) in the general election.[49]
2000
On November 7, 2000, Mark E. Souder won re-election to the United States House. He defeated Michael (Mike) Dewayne Foster (D) and Michael Donlan (L) in the general election.[50]
District analysis
- See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index
- See also: FiveThirtyEight's elasticity scores
The 2017 Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+17, meaning that in the previous two presidential elections, this district's results were 17 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Indiana's 4th Congressional District the 69th most Republican nationally.[51]
FiveThirtyEight's September 2018 elasticity score for states and congressional districts measured "how sensitive it is to changes in the national political environment." This district's elasticity score was 0.99. This means that for every 1 point the national political mood moved toward a party, the district was expected to move 0.99 points toward that party.[52]
State overview
Partisan control
This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Indiana heading into the 2018 elections.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2016 elections, one Democrat and one Republican held the U.S. Senate seats in Indiana.
- Republicans held seven of nine U.S. House seats in Indiana.
State executives
- As of May 2018, Republicans held seven of 14 state executive positions, and seven positions were held by nonpartisan or independent officials.
- The governor of Indiana was Republican Eric Holcomb.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly. They had a 70-30 majority in the state House and a 41-9 majority in the state Senate.
Trifecta status
- Indiana was a Republican trifecta, meaning the Republican Party held control of the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.
2018 elections
- See also: Indiana elections, 2018
Indiana held elections for the following positions in 2018:
- One Senate seat
- Nine U.S. House seats
- Three lower state executive positions
- 25 of 50 state Senate seats
- 100 state House seats
- One state Supreme Court retention election
- One state Court of Appeals retention election
Demographics
Demographic data for Indiana | ||
---|---|---|
Indiana | U.S. | |
Total population: | 6,612,768 | 316,515,021 |
Land area (sq mi): | 35,826 | 3,531,905 |
Race and ethnicity** | ||
White: | 84.2% | 73.6% |
Black/African American: | 9.2% | 12.6% |
Asian: | 1.9% | 5.1% |
Native American: | 0.2% | 0.8% |
Pacific Islander: | 0% | 0.2% |
Two or more: | 2.2% | 3% |
Hispanic/Latino: | 6.4% | 17.1% |
Education | ||
High school graduation rate: | 87.8% | 86.7% |
College graduation rate: | 24.1% | 29.8% |
Income | ||
Median household income: | $49,255 | $53,889 |
Persons below poverty level: | 18.4% | 11.3% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Indiana. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. |
As of July 2016, Indiana had a population of approximately 6,600,000 people, with its three largest cities being Indianapolis (pop. est. 856,000), Fort Wayne (pop. est. 265,000), and Evansville (pop. est. 119,000).[53][54] The chart on the right shows demographic information for Indiana from 2010 to 2015.
State election history
This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Indiana from 2000 to 2016. All data comes from the Indiana Secretary of State.[55]
Historical elections
Presidential elections
This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Indiana every year from 2000 to 2016.
Election results (President of the United States), Indiana 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
56.8% | ![]() |
37.9% | 18.9% |
2012 | ![]() |
54.1% | ![]() |
43.9% | 10.2% |
2008 | ![]() |
50.0% | ![]() |
48.9% | 1.1% |
2004 | ![]() |
59.9% | ![]() |
39.3% | 20.6% |
2000 | ![]() |
56.7% | ![]() |
41.0% | 15.7% |
U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Indiana from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.
Election results (U.S. Senator), Indiana 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
52.1% | ![]() |
42.4% | 9.7% |
2012 | ![]() |
50.0% | ![]() |
44.3% | 5.7% |
2010 | ![]() |
54.6% | ![]() |
40.0% | 14.6% |
2006 | ![]() |
87.3% | ![]() |
12.6% | 74.7% |
2004 | ![]() |
61.7% | ![]() |
37.2% | 24.5% |
2000 | ![]() |
66.5% | ![]() |
31.9% | 34.6% |
Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016
This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Indiana.
Election results (Governor), Indiana 2000-2016 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | First-place candidate | First-place candidate votes (%) | Second-place candidate | Second-place candidate votes (%) | Margin of victory (%) |
2016 | ![]() |
51.4% | ![]() |
45.4% | 6.0% |
2012 | ![]() |
50.0% | ![]() |
46.6% | 3.4% |
2008 | ![]() |
57.8% | ![]() |
40.1% | 17.7% |
2004 | ![]() |
53.2% | ![]() |
45.5% | 7.7% |
2000 | ![]() |
56.6% | ![]() |
41.7% | 14.9% |
Congressional delegation, 2000-2016
This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Indiana in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.
Trifectas, 1992-2017
A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.
Indiana Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Seventeen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Governor | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
Senate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
House | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2018
- United States House elections in Indiana (May 8, 2018 Republican primaries)
- Indiana's 4th Congressional District election (May 8, 2018 Democratic primary)
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2018
Footnotes
- ↑ Indiana Election Division, "Indiana Election Results," accessed May 24, 2018
- ↑ Indy Star, "Rep. Todd Rokita embraces Trump as he launches Indiana Senate bid," August 8, 2017
- ↑ Steve Braun for Congress, "Meet Steve," accessed May 4, 2018
- ↑ LinkedIn, "Diego Morales," accessed May 4, 2018
- ↑ IndyStar, "Former Pence aides trade words over 'racially charged' mailers in congressional race," April 29, 2018
- ↑ Journal & Courier, "In highly conservative 4th District, Trump is seen as asset," March 24, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Conservative Republican Jim Baird," November 16, 2017
- ↑ Banner Graphic, "Republican Jim Baird announces run for District 4 seat in U.S. Congress," October 19, 2017
- ↑ Elect Jim Baird, "Meet Jim," accessed March 10, 2018
- ↑ Chicago Tribune, "Former Indiana agency head announces bid for Congress," September 5, 2017
- ↑ Steve Braun for Congress, "Home," accessed March 10, 2018
- ↑ The Statehouse File, "Former Pence adviser to run for Rokita’s empty seat," August 10, 2017
- ↑ Diego for Congress, "Home," accessed March 10, 2018
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 14.4 14.5 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Facebook, "Conservative Republican Jim Baird," November 16, 2017
- ↑ Steve Braun for Congress, "Issues," accessed March 10, 2018
- ↑ Kevin Grant for Congress, "Kevin Grant: On the Issues," October 23, 2017
- ↑ Tim Radice for Congress, "Issues," accessed March 10, 2018
- ↑ Jared Thomas for Congress, "Issues," accessed March 10, 2018
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 The Exponent, "4th District Republican candidates sound off at debate," March 26, 2018
- ↑ Steve Braun for Congress, "Immigration," accessed March 29, 2018
- ↑ 22.0 22.1 22.2 22.3 Steve Braun for Congress, "Four Conservative Leaders Endorse Steve Braun for Congress," April 25, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Steve Braun," March 6, 2018
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Steve Braun for Congress, "TIPPECANOE COUNTY LEADERS ENDORSE CONSERVATIVE BUSINESSMAN STEVE BRAUN FOR CONGRESS," February 22, 2018
- ↑ 25.0 25.1 25.2 Facebook, "Steve Braun," January 17, 2018
- ↑ Babushahi, "SikhsPAC hosts fundrasing event for Diego Morales," December 19, 2017
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Steve Braun for Congress, "Eight Hendricks County Leaders Endorse Steve Braun for Congress," March 15, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Steve Braun," April 26, 2018
- ↑ Steve Braun for Congress, "Indiana Chamber Endorses Steve Braun for Congress in the 4th District," April 17, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "Elect Jim Baird," April 2, 2018
- ↑ With Honor, "Press Release: With Honor Endorses Nine Principled Veterans for Congress," March 15, 2018
- ↑ Facebook, "SikhsPAC," January 26, 2018
- ↑ OpenSecrets, "Citizens for a Strong America - Independent Expenditures," accessed May 4, 2018
- ↑ IndyStar, "Former Pence aides trade words over 'racially charged' mailers in congressional race," April 29, 2018
- ↑ Citizens for a Strong America, "Founder," accessed May 4, 2018
- ↑ Citizens for a Strong America, "Home," accessed May 4, 2018
- ↑ WLFI, "4TH DISTRICT CONGRESSIONAL DEBATE AT FAITH COMMUNITY CENTER," March 25, 2018
- ↑ KLTV, "The Latest: Pence praises GOP replacement choice," July 26, 2016
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "May 3, 2016 Primary Election," accessed February 8, 2016
- ↑ The New York Times, "Indiana Primary Results," May 3, 2016
- ↑ WBAA, "Brooks, Rokita Back On Congressional Ballots Following Weekend Caucuses," August 14, 2016
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "November 8, 2016 General Election," accessed September 6, 2016
- ↑ 43.0 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 Indiana Secretary of State, "Primary Candidate List," accessed February 5, 2014
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Indiana"
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 4, 2008," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2006," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2004," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 2002," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 7, 2000," accessed March 28, 2013
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Introducing the 2017 Cook Political Report Partisan Voter Index," April 7, 2017
- ↑ FiveThirtyEight, "Election Update: The Most (And Least) Elastic States And Districts," September 6, 2018
- ↑ Indiana Demographics, "Indiana Cities by Population," accessed January 9, 2018
- ↑ U.S. Census Bureau, "Quickfacts Indiana," accessed January 9, 2018
- ↑ Indiana Secretary of State, "Election Results," accessed September 5, 2018