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Indiana State Senate elections, 2014
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Indiana's 2014 elections U.S. House • Secretary of State • Other executive offices • State Senate • State House • School boards • Judicial • Candidate ballot access |
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Elections for the Indiana State Senate took place in 2014. A primary election took place on May 6, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 7, 2014.
Following the general election, there was no change to the majority control of the Indiana State Senate. The Republican Party strengthened their control of the chamber, increasing their seats from 37 to 40. The Democratic Party sustained the three lost seats, dropping from 13 to 10 overall.
Incumbents retiring
A total of five incumbents did not run for re-election in 2014. Those incumbents were:
| Name | Party | Current Office |
|---|---|---|
| Dorothy "Sue" Landske |  Republican |
Senate District 6 |
| Thomas Wyss | Republican |
Senate District 15 |
| Allen Paul | Republican |
Senate District 27 |
| Johnny Nugent | Republican |
Senate District 43 |
| Lindel Hume |  Democratic |
Senate District 48 |
Majority control
- See also: Partisan composition of state senates
Heading into the November 4 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Indiana State Senate:
| Indiana State Senate | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Party | As of November 3, 2014 | After November 4, 2014 | |
| Democratic Party | 13 | 10 | |
| Republican Party | 37 | 40 | |
| Total | 50 | 50 | |
Qualifications
To be eligible to serve in the Indiana State Senate, a candidate must be:[1]
- A United States citizen at the time of election
- Have resided in the state for at least two years and in the senate district for at least one year before the election
- Be at least twenty-five (25) years old upon taking office;
- Registered to vote in the election district the person seeks to represent not later than the deadline for filing the declaration or petition of candidacy or certificate of nomination
Competitiveness
Candidates unopposed by a major party
In 11 of the 25 districts up for election in 2014, there was only one major party candidate running for election. A total of 2 Democrats and 9 Republicans were guaranteed election barring unforeseen circumstances.
Two major party candidates faced off in the general election in 14 of the 25 districts up for election.
Primary challenges
A total of two incumbents faced primary competition on May 6. Five incumbents did not seek re-election in 2014 and another 18 incumbents advanced past the primary without opposition. The state senators that faced primary competition were:
- District 31: Incumbent James W. Merritt, Jr. (R) defeated Crystal D. LaMotte in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidate filed to run.
- District 39: Incumbent John M. Waterman (R) was defeated by Eric Bassler in the Republican primary. No Democratic candidate filed to run.
Retiring incumbents
Five incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 20 (80.0%) ran for re-election. A list of those incumbents, one Democrat and four Republicans, can be found above.
List of candidates
District 1
May 6 Democratic primary:
- Frank Mrvan Jr.: 5,561
- Incumbent Mrvan was first elected to the chamber in 1998.
- Frank Mrvan Jr.: 5,561
May 6 GOP primary:
- Ken Stevenson: 1,740
- Ken Stevenson: 1,740
November 4 General election candidates:
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- Frank Mrvan Jr.: 15,538
- Ken Stevenson: 10,506
District 4
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Karen Tallian: 3,958 - Incumbent Tallian was first appointed to the chamber in 2005.
- Karen Tallian: 3,958
- May 6 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
November 4 General election candidates:
District 6
Note: Incumbent Dorothy "Sue" Landske (R) did not run for re-election.
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Lon P. Childress: 1,656
- Roxanna Hanford: 2,040
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Rick Niemeyer: 4,406
- Chris M. Shepherd: 2,944
- Rick Niemeyer: 4,406
November 4 General election candidates:
- Roxanna Hanford: 9,579
- Rick Niemeyer: 19,969
District 11
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Joe Zakas: 4,324 - Incumbent Zakas was first elected to the chamber in 1982.
- Joe Zakas: 4,324
November 4 General election candidates:
District 14
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Dennis K. Kruse: 8,355 - Incumbent Kruse was first elected to the chamber in 2004.
- Dennis K. Kruse: 8,355
November 4 General election candidates:
District 15
Note: Incumbent Thomas Wyss (R) did not run for re-election.
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Jack E. Morris: 1,552
- Jack E. Morris: 1,552
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Liz Brown: 3,645
- Ken Fries: 3,296
- Jeffrey A. Snyder: 567
- Darren Vogt: 2,118
- Liz Brown: 3,645
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jack E. Morris: 10,482
- Liz Brown: 15,101
District 17
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Jim Banks: 11,259 - Incumbent Banks was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
- Jim Banks: 11,259
November 4 General election candidates:
District 19
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Travis Holdman: 10,304 - Incumbent Holdman was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
- Travis Holdman: 10,304
November 4 General election candidates:
District 21
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- James R. Buck: 7,889 - Incumbent Buck was first elected to the chamber in 2008.
- James R. Buck: 7,889
November 4 General election candidates:
District 22
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Ron J. Alting: 7,191 - Incumbent Alting was first elected to the chamber in 1998.
- Ron J. Alting: 7,191
November 4 General election candidates:
District 23
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Philip L. Boots: 12,633 - Incumbent Boots was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
- Philip L. Boots: 12,633
November 4 General election candidates:
- Bob Burkett: 9,835
- Philip L. Boots: 20,413
Note: Burkett filed to run on June 27, 2014.
District 25
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Tim Lanane: 5,600 - Incumbent Lanane was first elected to the chamber in 1997.
- Tim Lanane: 5,600
- May 6 GOP primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
Libertarian Party candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Tim Lanane: 15,560
- Robert Jozwiak: 5,458
Note: Jozwiak filed to run on July 2, 2014.
District 26
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Doug Eckerty: 5,703 - Incumbent Eckerty was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
- Doug Eckerty: 5,703
November 4 General election candidates:
District 27
Note: Incumbent Allen Paul (R) did not run for re-election.
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Jerome "Jake" Hoog: 1,664
- Jerome "Jake" Hoog: 1,664
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Eric Atkinson: 506
- Jeff Raatz: 4,231
- Doug Williamson: 1,443
- R. Bruce Wissel: 2,549
- Libertarian Party candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Jerome "Jake" Hoog: 6,250
- Jeff Raatz: 16,030
- Rex Bell: 2,552
Note: Bell filed to run on July 2, 2014.
District 29
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- J.D. Ford: 2,273
- J.D. Ford: 2,273
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Mike Delph: 4,760 - Incumbent Delph was first elected to the chamber in 2005.
- Mike Delph: 4,760
November 4 General election candidates:
- J.D. Ford: 12,744
- Mike Delph: 15,140
District 31
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Crystal D. LaMotte: 2,118
- James W. Merritt, Jr.: 6,035 - Incumbent Merritt was first elected to the chamber in 1990.
November 4 General election candidates:
District 38
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Tim Skinner: 7,804 - Incumbent Skinner was first elected to the chamber in 2002.
- Tim Skinner: 7,804
- May 6 GOP primary:
- John D. Carson: 2,374
- Jon Ford: 2,540
November 4 General election candidates:
- Tim Skinner: 12,580
- Jon Ford: 13,585
District 39
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Eric Bassler: 6,817
- John M. Waterman: 6,458 - Incumbent Waterman was first elected to the chamber in 1994.
- Eric Bassler: 6,817
November 4 General election candidates:
- Steve Lindsey: 12,786
- Eric Bassler: 20,074
Note: Lindsey filed to run on June 27, 2014.
District 41
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Andy Talarzyk: 944
- Andy Talarzyk: 944
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Greggory F. Walker: 7,289 - Incumbent Walker was first elected to the chamber in 2006.
- Greggory F. Walker: 7,289
- Libertarian Party candidates:
November 4 General election candidates:
- Andy Talarzyk: 5,349
- Greggory F. Walker: 15,940
- Damian Stanziano: 855
Note: Stanziano filed to run on July 2, 2014.
District 43
Note: Incumbent Johnny Nugent (R) did not run for re-election.
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Rudy Howard: 2,944
- Rudy Howard: 2,944
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Bill McDonald: 2,947
- Chip Perfect: 5,281
- Mark Schneider: 2,551
November 4 General election candidates:
- Rudy Howard: 8,988
- Chip Perfect: 22,737
District 45
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Julie Berry: 8,750
- Julie Berry: 8,750
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Jim Smith: 4,491 - Incumbent Smith was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
- Jim Smith: 4,491
November 4 General election candidates:
- Julie Berry: 16,994
- Jim Smith: 19,827
District 46
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Charles "Chuck" Freiberger: 5,280
- Charles "Chuck" Freiberger: 5,280
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Ron Grooms: 3,653 - Incumbent Grooms was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
- Ron Grooms: 3,653
November 4 General election candidates:
- Charles "Chuck" Freiberger: 13,168
- Ron Grooms: 16,950
District 47
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Richard D. Young, Jr.: 6,550 - Incumbent Young was first elected to the chamber in 1988.
- Richard D. Young, Jr.: 6,550
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Erin Houchin: 5,646
- Harris Lloyd "Tad" Whitis: 4,175
- Erin Houchin: 5,646
November 4 General election candidates:
- Richard D. Young, Jr.: 15,419
- Erin Houchin: 21,395
District 48
Note: Incumbent Lindel Hume (D) did not run for re-election.
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- Larry Vollmer: 4,770
- Larry Vollmer: 4,770
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Mark Messmer: 7,643
- Ted Metzger: 1,905
- Mark Messmer: 7,643
November 4 General election candidates:
- Larry Vollmer: 12,489
- Mark Messmer: 23,859
District 49
- May 6 Democratic primary:
- No candidates filed for election.
- May 6 GOP primary:
- Jim Tomes: 4,089 - Incumbent Tomes was first elected to the chamber in 2010.
- Jim Tomes: 4,089
November 4 General election candidates:
See also
External links
- Indiana Secretary of State - Official primary candidate list
- Indiana Secretary of State - Official primary election results
- Indiana Secretary of State - Official general election candidate list
- Indiana Secretary of State - Official general election results
Footnotes
