Indiana's 6th Congressional District elections, 2012
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November 6, 2012 |
May 8, 2012 |
Luke Messer ![]() |
Mike Pence ![]() |
The 6th Congressional District of Indiana held an election for the U.S. House of Representatives on November 6, 2012.

Luke Messer (R) won election to the U.S. House of Representatives 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: Heading into the election the incumbent was Mike Pence (R), who was first elected in 2000. Pence announced in May 2011 that he would run for Governor of Indiana rather than for re-election to the House of Representatives.[3]
This was the first election using district maps based on data from the 2010 Census. Indiana's 6th Congressional District took in a large portion of eastern Indiana, including Jefferson, Switzerland, Jennings, Ohio, Dearborn, Decatur, Ripley, Bartholomew, Shelby, Hancock, Rush, Fayette, Union, Wayne, Henry, Delaware and Randolph counties.[4]
Candidates
General election candidates
May 8, 2012, primary results
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- Note: John Hatter and Allen Smith II appeared on the primary ballot, but both announced prior to the primary that they withdrew from the race.[9][6] Andrew Phipps indicated a run in 2012, but never official filed.[10][6] Lane Siekman announced an intent to run after forming an exploratory committee, but eventually decided against a run in 2012.[6][8] Barry Welsh indicated an intent to run, but never officially filed.[6][8]
Election results
General Election
Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Democratic | Brad Bookout | 35.1% | 96,678 | |
Republican | ![]() |
59.1% | 162,613 | |
Libertarian | Rex Bell | 5.8% | 15,962 | |
Total Votes | 275,253 | |||
Source: Indiana Secretary of State "House of Representatives Election Results" |
Democratic Primary
Republican Primary
Race background
Endorsements
Republican candidate Luke Messer was endorsed by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, with the decision announced by the organization's PAC, Indiana Chamber Congressional Action Committee.[11] Messer also received endorsements from Indiana Right to Life PAC and the National Rifle Association (NRA).[12][13][14]
Former Republican candidates Allen Smith II and John Hatter endorsed Messer in the race for the 6th district after ending their campaigns prior to the primary election.[15][16] On May 3, Messer was endorsed by Governor of Indiana Mitch Daniels.[17]
Republican candidate Don Bates, Jr. was endorsed by Hancock County Council members, Dr. Brian Kirkwood and John Jessup.[18] Bates also received endorsement from the Indiana Right to Life PAC on March 29, 2012.[19]
Bates was also endorsed by state senator Greg Walker,[20] Connersville, Indiana Mayor Leonard Urban,[21] Greg Fettig with America ReFocused[22] and Randolph County Sheriff Ken Hendrickson on April 12, 2012.[23]
Republican Bill Frazier received endorsements from Indiana Right to Life PAC and the National Rifle Association (NRA).[24][25][26]
Democratic candidate Brad Bookout received endorsements from the Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Dennis Tyler, Mayor Greg York, County Commissioner President Todd Donati, County Commissioner Larry Bledsoe, County Commissioner Donald Dunnuck, State Senator Tim Lanane, Former State Senator Allie Craycraft, State Representative Mike White, Muncie Fire Chief Edward Bell, Muncie Police Chief Steven Stewart, and Delaware County Sheriff Michael S. Scroggins.[27]
Campaign donors
2012
Brad Bookout (2012)[28] Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
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Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
April Quarterly[29] | April 16, 2012 | $8,500.33 | $13,271.50 | $(7,353.17) | $14,418.66 | ||||
Pre-Primary[30] | May 2, 2012 | $7,010.83 | $0.00 | $(1,489.70) | $5,521.13 | ||||
July Quarterly[31] | July 11, 2012 | $3,836.52 | $12,105.18 | $(20,279.29) | $−4,337.59 | ||||
October Quarterly[32] | October 15, 2012 | $1,336.52 | $22,815.81 | $(17,902.26) | $6,250.07 | ||||
Running totals | |||||||||
$48,192.49 | $(47,024.42) |
Luke Messer (2012) Campaign Finance Reports | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Report | Date Filed | Beginning Balance | Total Contributions for Reporting Period | Expenditures | Cash on Hand | ||||
April Quarterly[33] | April 15, 2012 | $290,405.36 | $127,225.00 | $(65,860.44) | $351,769.92 | ||||
Pre-primary[34] | April 26, 2012 | $351,769.92 | $75,895.00 | $(133,553.27) | $294,111.65 | ||||
July Quarterly[35] | July 15, 2012 | $294,111.65 | $148,620.00 | $(393,507.06) | $49,224.59 | ||||
October Quarterly[36] | October 15, 2012 | $49,224.59 | $213,474.64 | $(117,383.21) | $145,316.02 | ||||
Running totals | |||||||||
$565,214.64 | $(710,303.98) |
Impact of redistricting
- See also: Redistricting in Indiana
The newly-drawn map was designed to produce seven districts that were favorable to the Republican Party and two that were favorable to the Democratic Party.
The 6th District extended from Muncie to the Ohio River.[37]
The new 6th District was composed of the following percentages of voters of the old congressional districts.[38][39]
- 15 percent from the 5th Congressional District
- 59 percent from the 6th Congressional District
- 26 percent from the 9th Congressional District
District partisanship
FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012 study
- See also: FairVote's Monopoly Politics 2012
In 2012, FairVote did a study on partisanship in the congressional districts, giving each a percentage ranking (D/R) based on the new 2012 maps and comparing that to the old 2010 maps. Indiana's 6th District became more Republican because of redistricting.[40]
- 2012: 41D / 59R
- 2010: 43D / 57R
Cook Political Report's PVI
In 2012, Cook Political Report released its updated figures on the Partisan Voter Index, which measures each congressional district's partisanship relative to the rest of the country. Indiana's 6th Congressional District had a PVI of R+12, which was the 88th most Republican district in the country. In 2008, this district was won by John McCain (R), 56-44 percent over Barack Obama (D). In 2004, George W. Bush (R) won the district 65-35 percent over John Kerry (D).[41]
District history
Candidate ballot access |
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2010
On November 2, 2010, Mike Pence won re-election to the United States House of Representatives. He defeated Barry Welsh (D) and Talmage "T.J" Thompson, Jr. (L) in the general election.[42]
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2012
- United States House of Representatives elections, 2012
- United States Senate elections in Indiana, 2012
External links
- Barry Welsh's Campaign Website
- Don Bates Jr.'s Campaign Website
- Brad Bookout's Campaign Website
- Jim Crone's Campaign Website
- Lane Siekman's Campaign Website
- Travis Hankins' Campaign Website
- John Hatter's Campaign Website
- Luke Messer's Campaign Website
- Bill Frazier's Campaign Website
- TJ Thompson's Campaign Website
- Joseph Van Wye's Campaign Website
Footnotes
- ↑ Politico, "2012 Election Map, Indiana"
- ↑ Indiana Elections Division, "2012 Calendar Brochure," accessed July 24, 2012
- ↑ Reuters.com, "Republican Rep. Mike Pence to run for Indiana governor" accessed December 16, 2011
- ↑ Indiana Redistricting Map, "Map" accessed July 24, 2012
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 The Star Press.com "W/R REPORT: Meet the Muncie Dem's House candidate" accessed December 16, 2011
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 6.4 6.5 6.6 6.7 6.8 6.9 Indiana Secretary of State Elections Division "Primary Candidate List" accessed February 7, 2012 Cite error: Invalid
<ref>
tag; name "source" defined multiple times with different content - ↑ WIBC.com "Ex-State Senator Makes Sixth Bid for Congress" accessed December 16, 2011
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Indiana Secretary of State "Primary Candidate List" accessed January 26, 2012
- ↑ Courier Times, "Except for loan, Messer still leads in fundraising" accessed May 3, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ The Star Press.com, "Andrew Phipps announces campaign for Sixth District congressional seat" accessed December 16, 2011
- ↑ Luke Messer for Congress, "LUKE MESSER / Indiana Chamber endorses Luke Messer – Courier Times 3.9" accessed April 13, 2012
- ↑ Pal Item, "Profiles of the Republican Candidates for the Sixth Congressional District" accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ Indiana Right to Life PAC "Indiana Right to Life PAC announces candidate endorsements in contested primaries " accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, "Endorsements Indiana 2012" accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ Luke Messer, "ALLEN SMITH ENDORSES LUKE MESSER FOR CONGRESS" accessed April 23, 2012
- ↑ Courier Times, "Except for loan, Messer still leads in fundraising" accessed May 3, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Cite error: Invalid
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tag; no text was provided for refs nameddaniels
- ↑ Courier Times, "Indiana Chamber endorses Luke Messer" accessed April 13, 2012 (dead link)
- ↑ Bates for Congress, "Indiana Right to Life PAC endorses Don Bates for Congress" accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Bates for Congress, "State Senator Greg Walker Endorses Bates" accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Bates for Congress, "Connersville Mayor Leonard Urban" accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Bates for Congress, "Greg Fettig With America Refocused Endorses Don Bates for Congress" accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Don Bates for Congress, "Randolph County Sheriff Ken Henrickson Endores Don Bates for Congress" accessed May 1, 2012
- ↑ Pal Item, "Profiles of the Republican Candidates for the Sixth Congressional District" accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ Indiana Right to Life PAC "Indiana Right to Life PAC announces candidate endorsements in contested primaries " accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ National Rifle Association Political Victory Fund, "Endorsements Indiana 2012" accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ Bookout for Congress, "Endorsements," accessed May 3, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Brad Bookout Summary Reports" accessed July 17, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Bookout April Quarterly" accessed July 17, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Bookout Pre-Primary" accessed July 17, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Bookout July Quarterly" accessed July 17, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Bookout October Quarterly" accessed October 22, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Messer April Quarterly" accessed October 8, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Messer Pre-primary" accessed October 8, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Messer July Quarterly" accessed October 8, 2012
- ↑ FEC Reports, "Messer October Quarterly" accessed October 22, 2012
- ↑ Roll Call, "Race Ratings: GOP Poised to Scoop Up a Seat" accessed February 29, 2012
- ↑ Moonshadow Mobile's CensusViewer, "Arizona's congressional districts 2001-2011 comparison"
- ↑ Labels & Lists, "VoterMapping software voter counts"
- ↑ "2011 Redistricting and 2012 Elections in Indiana," September 2012
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "Partisan Voting Index Districts of the 113th Congress: 2004 & 2008" accessed October 2012
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013