MORALES DOWNS WELLS IN A LANDSLIDE: Republican Diego Morales kept Hoosier Democrats from winning their first statewide race in a decade, defeating Destiny Wells for secretary of state (Howey Politics Indiana). Morales led with 59% of the vote. The victory came after unrelenting negative press following his defeat of incumbent Republican Holli Sullivan last June at the Indiana Republican convention. Morales’s victory came while U.S. Sen. Todd Young cruised to a second term in landslide fashion, while House Republicans picked off Democrat Reps. Terri Austin and Rita Fleming, and State Sen. Kyle Walker fended off a spirited challenge from Fishers Councilwoman Jocelyn Vare. Morales paid tribute to his immigrant parents as he declared victory at the JWMarriott. “Now Dad and Mom, you have a son elected as the next and first Hispanic Latino secretary of state in the history of Indiana,” Morales said to cheers. “I’d like to thank all the Hoosiers who voted for me all across the 92 counties. I am proud to say I visited all 92 counties multiple times and I’m humbled by your confidence in me.” “My commitment to you is that I will work as hard as I have been doing to make you all be proud, and take this office — the legacy of former secretaries of state — to the next level. That is my commitment to all of you,” Morales said Tuesday evening at the Indiana Republican Party’s election night event. “Hoosiers have once again shown that they trust the Republican Party to run free and fair elections in Indiana and have rejected Democrats’ efforts to reduce the integrity of them,” Indiana Republican Party Chair Kyle Hupfer said in a statement. Wells conceded, saying, “Campaigning is tough, demanding work, and while we did not win this year, I have been reassured by…your support.”
GOP HOLDS HOUSE SUPER MAJORITY: The Republican supermajority hold over the House Chamber may grow following election results Tuesday night after two apparent upsets with margins of less than 1% (Downard, Capital Chronicle). Republican Kyle Pierce ousted incumbent Democrat Rep. Terri Austin in a nail-biter race, with unofficial results reporting just after 8 p.m. that Pierce won by a margin of 333 votes. Pierce won the District 36 seat in Anderson with 8,888 votes, 50.95%, to Austin’s 8,555 votes, 49.05%. Democrats also suffered another close loss in Jeffersonville, with incumbent Rep. Rita Fleming falling short by 35 votes to Republican Scott Hawkins. With nearly every precinct reporting in District 71, Hawkins won 8,688 votes, or 50.1%, to Fleming’s 8,653 votes, according to the Secretary of State’s website around 11 p.m. Both those races could go to recount. A third race in District 32, a district with no incumbent following redistricting and lawmaker retirements in the 2022 legislative session, has a GOP lead by less than a percentage point. Republican Fred Glynn had 10,404 votes, or 50.2% of the vote, over Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn’s 10,322 votes – a difference of 82 votes. Nearly 98% of precincts in Hamilton and Marion Counties had reported their results, according to the IndyStar’s ElectionsTracker. One final race in central Indiana, this time in Boone and Hendricks Counties, had a bit wider of a margin: 1,277 votes. Republican Becky Cash led Democrat Jen Bass-Patino with 12,361 votes, 52.7%, to Bass-Patino’s 11,084, according to the Indiana Election Division.
YOUNG DEFEATS McDERMOTT FOR 2ND TERM: U.S. Sen. Todd Young declared victory in his re-election campaign to the United States Senate (Howey Politics Indiana). “I am grateful to Hoosiers for the opportunity to continue serving them in the United States Senate,” Young said, addressing a crowd of supporters in Indianapolis. “This Marine is ready to go back to Washington to fight back against the Biden-Harris agenda wherever necessary, but I’m also ready to work across the aisle to conquer America’s challenges and defeat our enemies abroad. As this campaign closes, I am incredibly grateful for the grassroots volunteers who knocked doors, made calls, or found a way to donate to our campaign. To every candidate up and down the ballot who stepped up and ran for office this year: thank you. Our communities, state, and nation are better for your willingness to serve. I want to congratulate Mayor McDermott and James Sceniak for their tireless efforts on the campaign trail,” Young said. “It is my honor to serve all Hoosiers and represent all their interests in Washington. Let’s get to work.” Speaking to a comparatively dejected gathering of supporters at Union Station in downtown Indianapolis, McDermott said, “Obviously, tonight didn’t work out the way I that I thought it was going to. I want to congratulate Todd Young for beating me,” McDermott said. “I wish Todd Young well in the next six years leading the state of Indiana as U.S. senator, and I mean it with all my heart. The better he does, the better our state does.”
GREEN CONCEDES TO MRVAN: Up in The Region, freshman Democrat U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan defeated Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green (Howey Politics Indiana). “I want to thank the volunteers who believed in us, who had great faith in us. And really, because of the connections of a lifetime, living in the Region and building a relationship one person at a time, I want to thank you all,” Mrvan said (Carden, NWI Times). “The other people I want to thank are working men and women, and union labor — the Steelworkers, the Laborers, the IBEW, all the building trades. I want to thank you for your commitment, the doors that you knocked, the phone calls you made, talking to members, talking to working men and women to understand what was at stake. I thank you,” he added. “Thanks Northwest Indiana!” “I congratulate Congressman Mrvan on his victory tonight, but he is on notice.,” Green said in her concession speech. “In two years, we will have another chance to build on tonight’s success and restore common sense leadership. The days of Republicans not contesting this seat are over. The people of Northwest Indiana are good hardworking people who want to go to work, provide for their families, and leave a better life for the children, and they deserve better than leadership that is making life harder for everyone.”“For too long, the good people of northwest Indiana have been without a choice when selecting their representative in Congress. I am proud to say we provided that choice and I am humbled by the support we received, coming within 4% of victory in a district Republicans haven’t won in 94 years,” Green said. “When I entered this race, no one gave us a chance. After 18 months of campaigning, no one is doubting us now. Nothing worth doing is ever easy and changing a district that has voted one way for nearly a century doesn’t happen overnight. This is just the beginning not the end.”
U.S. HOUSE, SENATE MAJORITIES TOO CLOSE TO CALL: House and Senate control in the new year remain uncertain this morning as voters’ ballots continue to be counted and key midterm contests remain remarkably close. Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman flipped a seat and defeated Republican challenger Mehmet Oz in a roller coaster Senate contest considered crucial for Democrats (The Hill). Republicans are celebrating Senate victories in North Carolina with candidate Ted Budd and in Ohio with J.D. Vance, holding on to GOP seats in both open races, while Democratic incumbents beat back challengers in Washington, New Hampshire and Colorado to return to the nation’s capital. ? The Boston Globe: New Hampshire Sen. Maggie Hassan (D) defeats conservative election denier Don Bolduc. ? The Associated Press: Sen. Mark Kelly (D) takes an early lead in battleground Arizona. Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock (D) and Republican challenger Herschel Walker this morning are grappling in a tight race in the state that determined partisan control of the Senate nearly two years ago and could do so again. If neither can win the contest outright, they would head to a Dec. 6 runoff. “We’re not sure if this journey is over tonight or if there’s still a little work yet to do,” Warnock told supporters in an Atlanta hotel ballroom just before 2 a.m. In Wisconsin, incumbent Republican Sen. Ron Johnson leads challenger Mandela Barnes (D) this morning with 94 percent of the votes counted (The New York Times).
FETTERMAN WINS PA SENATE RACE: Republicans’ pathway to the Senate majority narrowed in the early hours of Wednesday morning, as Lt. Gov. John Fetterman defeated GOP Mehmet Oz in Pennsylvania (Politico). It marked the first Senate-seat flip of the election, with Democrat Fetterman slated to fill the position currently held by retiring Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.). That victory came on the heels of wins for Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), a top target for Republicans in a state where polls seemed to tighten in recent weeks, and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), whose reelection was called less than an hour after the state’s polls closed Tuesday night. Meanwhile, Republicans held their seats in Florida, Ohio and North Carolina. But now, assuming GOP Sen. Ron Johnson holds Wisconsin, they also need to pick up two of three remaining toss-up races in Arizona, Georgia or Nevada.
DeSANTIS WINS EMPHATIC REELECTION: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis swiftly trounced Democrat Charlie Crist on Tuesday night, a win that will shape Florida politics likely for years and sets the Republican governor up for a probable 2024 presidential run (Politico). DeSantis defeated Crist by a nearly 20 percent margin — 59 to 40 — a stunning margin that was the widest margin in a Florida gubernatorial race since Jeb Bush won by nearly 13 points in 2002. DeSantis also won the Democratic stronghold of Miami-Dade County, another first for Republicans since Bush did it that same year.
DeSANTIS CLIPS TRUMP: One likely contender for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024 had a triumphant night on Tuesday, and it wasn’t Donald Trump (Washington Post). The former president spent the final days of the campaign lashing out and even threatening Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose apparent interest in running against Trump has puzzled him, according to advisers who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reflect private conversations. The Florida governor didn’t return fire, other than to hold his own campaign event on Saturday, competing with a Trump rally in Miami and further irking the former president. Come election night, however, it was DeSantis holding the ebullient victory party, having won reelection in a 20-point landslide, almost 15 points better than Trump’s 2020 margin in their shared home state. At the party, DeSantis’s supporters chanted “Two more years!” — encouraging the governor to seek the presidency before finishing his second term. Trump’s own watch party, by contrast, was diminished by a tropical storm barreling toward his Mar-a-Lago resort, located by Wednesday morning in a mandatory evacuation zone. Trump spoke briefly Tuesday night to thank reporters for attending, boast about his winning record of endorsements and congratulate a few Republican candidates who’d won or were leading. But not DeSantis. “Wouldn’t that be funny if we were better in the general election than on the [primary] nominations,” Trump mused, as if still processing the results himself. He spent Tuesday night among longtime advisers and donors who, like other Republicans, expected a better showing on Tuesday.
HOBBS LEADING LAKE IN ARIZONA: Democrat Katie Hobbs led Republican Kari Lake in the race for Arizona governor, but the battle for control of the crucial battleground state was too early to call (ABC7). With 67% of the vote in, Hobbs had a 30,000 vote lead over Republican Kari Lake. Lake, a former television news anchor, says she would not have certified the state’s 2020 election results. Her television-ready demeanor, confrontations with journalists and combative message for Democrats made the first-time candidate a rising star on the right whose future in national politics is already being debated. Hobbs, Arizona’s secretary of state, rose to prominence defending the integrity of President Joe Biden’s victory in Arizona, where he eked out the smallest margin of any state he won two years ago.
BOEBERT LOSING TO FRISCH IN COLORADO: The race between incumbent U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and challenger Adam Frisch for Colorado’s massive 3rd Congressional District was too close to call late Tuesday night, as election officials continued to count ballots (Denver Post). As of 12:10 a.m., Frisch, a Democrat from Aspen, had pulled ahead of Boebert, a Republican from Silt, 51.25% to 48.75%, the secretary of state’s office reported. So far, 276,118 votes had been counted, nearly 57% of the district’s 487,094 registered voters. After midnight Frisch told The Denver Post he was both invigorated and tired, especially after an 11-day, 3,300-mile run through the district, which took him through 27 counties. “We’re winning, I’ve not won. I’m not gonna get over my skis, so to speak,” Frisch said.
TRUMP’S RED WAVE FIZZLES: Former President Trump is facing waves of blame after key Republican candidates lost in midterms (Axios). There was no red wave. As of this morning, control of the Senate is undetermined, but appears to be leaning toward Democrats. The House is headed for a very narrow GOP majority, but is also uncalled. Why it matters: Regardless of the reality with GOP primary voters, Republican elites — and other anti-Trump Republicans — sense blood in the water. There’s an increased likelihood of a larger, more boisterous primary field competing against Trump in 2024, Jonathan Swan reports. The chances Trump can clear the field are vastly diminished. What happened: Many of former President Trump’s handpicked candidates were defeated or struggled in otherwise winnable races — a lineup of underachievers, Axios’ Josh Kraushaar reports.
HPI/STATE AFFAIRS MEET & GREET NOV. 15: Friends, join Howey Politics Indiana and State Affairs from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at The Columbia Club. Come and meet the very talented members of the State Affairs team. State Affairs is a digital media company dedicated to investigative coverage of state house issues from the perspective of average citizens and is also the new home of HPI, which provides deep analysis, commentary and news coverage of policy and politics emanating from the Indiana state house. RSVP to Alison Bethel, editor-in-chief, by Friday, Nov. 11, at [email protected].
HPI DAILY ANALYSIS: Late Tuesday night, Destiny Wells lost to Diego Morales and conceded. Tom McDermott lost to Sen. Young, and conceded. In The Region, Jennifer-Ruth Green lost and conceded. In Georgia, Democrat gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams lost … and conceded. This is the essence of American democracy. This is how it’s supposed to work. – Brian A. Howey
Statewides
ELLIOTT WINS TREASURER’S RACE: Republican Daniel Elliott was elected as Indiana state treasurer against Democratic opponent, Jessica McClellan (WVPE). In his campaign, Elliott emphasized his commitment to promoting economic development, particularly in rural areas, promoting cybersecurity and ensuring transparency within government. In her concession speech, McClellan said the slate of candidates “absolutely slayed it.” “Indiana Democrats, we are changing our party every single day. Stay involved. There are new people in this party that were not involved 10, 15, 20 years ago,” McClellan said. “We have to keep them involved and we have to bring more people in. so that is how we’re going to keep working in the right direction.”
Congress
YAKYM ELECTED IN 2ND CD: Republican Rudy Yakym III, of Granger, who was chosen in August by Republican district leaders to take the ballot spot of the late U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Elkhart, prevailed over Democrat Paul Steury, of Goshen, and Libertarian William Henry, of Goshen, in both the special election to complete Walorski’s current term, as well as the general election for a full, two-year term of his own representing portions of LaPorte County and other areas of north-central Indiana (Carden, NWI Times). Yakym released the following statement after being declared the winner of the race for Indiana’s 2nd CD. “First, I want to pay tribute to the late Congresswoman Jackie Walorski. In August this district suffered an unimaginable loss with the tragic loss of Jackie, Zach and Emma. Jackie was a fighter, and a devoted public servant. And I want to extend my deepest appreciation to her husband, Dean Swihart, and the entire Walorski family for their support in this race and we will continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers. And Jackie this victory is for you and we miss you every day. I am humbled to earn the support of Hoosiers and honored to be the 2nd District’s next representative,” said Congressman-Elect Rudy Yakym, “As your next Congressman, I will stay focused on stoking the flames of success and ensure the work is done in Washington to deliver meaningful results for Hoosiers. I am confident that together, we can build a brighter and more prosperous future for our kids and grandkids so they, too, can reap all the benefits of the American Dream.”
HOUCHIN WINS 9TH CD: Republican Erin Houchin is the winner of Indiana’s 9th Congressional District. Houchin is a former state senator from Salem who represented District 47 from 2014 to 2022 (Indiana Public Media). Former president Donald Trump endorsed Houchin Nov. 3. “I just feel very honored to be the person going to represent this district in Washington D.C.,” Houchin said. “I’m ready for it, I’d go right now if they would let me; I have to wait till Jan. 3.” Houchin said she opposes abortion and is pro-second amendment. She also said “irregularities” in the 2020 election included governors and secretaries of state making unconstitutional changes to election law during the pandemic. “I am conservative; this district is pretty conservative,” she said. “But for those that didn’t vote for me, I hope that they’ll watch what we’re doing and that they’ll be pleased with our governance once we get to Washington.
BAIRD WINS REELECTION: U.S. Rep. Jim Baird, R-Greencastle, prevailed over Democrat Roger Day, of Avon, to win a third term representing Newton and Jasper counties, and west-central Indiana, in the U.S. House.
HUPFER ON YOUNG WIN: Indiana Republican Party Chairman Kyle Hupfer tonight issued the following statement on the U.S. Senate election results (Howey Politics Indiana): Congratulations to U.S. Senator Todd Young on his reelection and definitive victory tonight. Todd is a fighter for Hoosier families, a staunch advocate for law enforcement and the military, and a champion of our Hoosier values. Indiana will continue to be well represented by him for six more years.”
BANKS WINS IN 3RD CD: After a decisive victory in the race to represent Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives next year, Congressman Jim Banks released the following statement: “It has been the honor of my lifetime to spend three terms representing northeast Indiana in the House and I am grateful to the people of Indiana for the opportunity to serve for another term. After the first two years of the Biden presidency and a Speaker-Pelosi controlled House, Hoosiers face runaway inflation, skyrocketing energy costs, a broken border, increasing crime, and a worsening opioid epidemic. There’s a lot of work to be done and I am more determined than ever to fight back against the craziness in Washington. I plan to play a leading role in charting the House Republican agenda next Congress so that I am in the best possible position to champion northeast Indiana’s values and interests and bring much needed relief to those who are struggling.”
SPARTZ WINS REELECTION IN 5TH CD: U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz released the following statement following her re-election to Indiana’s 5th Congressional District (Howey Politics Indiana): “I am honored to have earned a second term representing the people of Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, and am ready to continue delivering results for Hoosiers,” said Spartz. “The radical policies and one-party Democrat rule in Washington have had crippling effects on our economy and national security, and we must now get back to work to govern our nation. We will continue fighting for small businesses, secure borders, smart energy policies, health care reform, and against out-of-control spending and corruption. We will continue fighting for Hoosiers and all Americans, and stop attacking the American Dream. I am proud to lead the charge, and grateful for the opportunity to serve.”
DCCC STATEMENT ON MRVAN WIN: DCCC Chairman Sean Patrick Maloney issued the following statement on Frank Mrvan’s win in IN-01 (Howey Politics Indiana): “Congressman Mrvan has been a steadfast voice for protecting the rights of organized workers. His victory tonight ensures that working families in Northwest Indiana will continue to have a fierce advocate in Congress. I congratulate him on this victory and look forward to seeing the great work he will continue to do on behalf of his constituents in the years to come.”
VANCE TOPS RYAN IN OHIO: Republican J.D. Vance held off Rep. Tim Ryan to win Ohio’s Senate race, as the state’s yearslong shift to the right proved too much for the Democrat’s stronger-than-expected bid to overcome (Politico). “We just got a great chance to govern and we need to use it,” Vance told supporters Tuesday night in his victory speech. Republican leaders said they absolutely had to keep control of the seat being vacated by retiring GOP Sen. Rob Portman — viewing it as essential to reclaiming control of the Senate, which has for the last two years been evenly split and controlled by Democrats by virtue of Vice President Kamala Harris’ tie-breaking vote.
GEORGIA RUNOFF LIKELY: In Georgia, state officials expect a runoff Dec. 6 between Sen. Raphael Warnock (D), who’s leading by close to 1 point, and Herschel Walker (R) (Axios).
REP. SLOTKIN WINS IN MICHIGAN: Democratic U.S. Rep. Elissa Slotkin prevailed over Republican state Sen. Tom Barrett overnight in their hard-fought race in mid-Michigan in a win she called a rejection of “the politics of division” (Detroit News). Elissa Slotkin addresses her supporters at her election night watch party in East Lansing, telling them they won’t know the results of the election until the next day. Slotkin of Lansing had 51% of the vote, and Barrett of Charlotte had 47% with about 93% of the vote counted. Libertarian candidate Leah Dailey of South Lyon had 2% of the vote. The race was called by the Associated Press just after 3 a.m. Wednesday, and Barrett phoned Slotkin and conceded, a Slotkin spokesman said.
General Assembly
WALKER WINS IN SD31: With more than 95% of the vote counted, State Sen. Kyle Walker was leading with 55% of the vote in Senate District 31 to Vare’s 45% (Howey Politics Indiana). Walker issued the following statement tonight after winning re-election to serve Hoosiers in State Senate District 31: “Tonight’s victory is further evidence that the voters of this district want commonsense leadership that produces results. In the Senate, I will stay laser focused on the issues that matter, strengthening our economy, improving public safety and investing in quality of life to keep our communities thriving,” Walker said. “I’m grateful to everyone who helped us deliver our message to earn the support of voters across the district.” Walker was endorsed by 20 nonpartisan organizations and his campaign knocked on more than 15,000 doors in the district, distributed hundreds of yard signs, and delivered countless messages to voters.
DeVON HOLDS ON TO HD5 WITH 56%: It appears that incumbent Republican Rep. Dale DeVon will hold onto his District 5 seat in the Indiana House of Representatives (South Bend Tribune). DeVon claimed 56.7% of the vote versus 43.3% for his challenger, Dr. Heidi Beidinger, a Democrat and president of the St. Joseph County Board of Health, with 98.6% of votes counted. DeVon had 11,738 votes, and Beidinger had 8,965. Beidinger had jumped into this race because of the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade and efforts to further limit abortion rights in Indiana, though she’d also had concerns over several health issues in Indiana. The operator of a home-building business, DeVon was among those who’d followed up on the Supreme Court’s decision and voted in favor of Indiana’s near-total ban on abortions.
REP. OLTHOFF BLASTS BECK IN REMATCH: With 99% reporting, State Rep. Julie Olthoff held a commanding 58.7% to 41.3% lead over Democrat Lisa Beck in HD19 (Howey Politics Indiana).
REP. TESHKA WINS: State Rep. Jake Teshka won reelection with 60.8% over former Democrat legislator Ross Deal in HD7 (Howey Politics Indiana). In HD10, Rep. Chuck Moseley defeated Manuel Maldonado 52.8% to 47.2%.
WILBURN LEADS GLYNN IN HD32: The race to represent the new Indiana House District 32 remained too close to call on Tuesday night (IBJ). As of 10:50 p.m., Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn held a 79-vote lead of 12,225 to 12,146 over Republican Fred Glynn. The district includes precincts in Hamilton and Marion counties. Hamilton finished counting ballots by 10:50 on Tuesday night, but Marion County officials were still at it. In HD39, Rep. Jerry Torr defeated Matt McNally 52.4% to 47.6%.
PIERCE UPSETS REP. AUSTIN: Incumbent Democrat Terri Austin lost her bid for an 11th term in the Indiana House to Republican Kyle Pierce (de la Bastide, Anderson Herald Bulletin). The election was a rematch for the District 36 seat from two years ago when Austin won with 53% of the vote. Austin opened a slight lead early in the vote tabulation, but when the last ballots were counted, Pierce emerged with a 333-vote victory. “I had the privilege of serving for 20 years,” Austin said. “I was the first woman elected state representative from Madison County. I had the opportunity to serve and help many people.” She said there was a strong Republican turnout on Tuesday, noting that a recent change in district boundaries had made the area more politically conservative. “I worked hard to get people to know me,” Austin said. “People were unhappy with the national Democrats.” She said during her time in the Indiana House she did some good for the community. Pierce said it was a tight race. “I was nervous as the night went on,” he said. “I was confident that I ran a good campaign. “All the county Republican candidates worked well together,” Pierce added. “We organized our efforts so as not to duplicate efforts. Our success was because of a coordinated effort.” Pierce said in the Legislature his focus will be to do everything possible to fight inflation, lower taxes and to fight crime. “That’s what I heard from people,” he said. “I have my marching orders.”
HAWKINS TOPS REP. FLEMING: Republican incumbent Ed Clere and Republican Scott Hawkins will represent parts of Southern Indiana in the Indiana House of Representatives next year after winning their respective races Tuesday. Hawkins won District 71 with 8,688 votes or 50.10% of votes against incumbent Democrat Rita Fleming who received 8,653 votes or 49.8% of votes (News & Tribune). Hawkins has acted as an at-large Jeffersonville City Council member for nearly eight years, though his Tuesday night win means that he will not finish out the last year of his second term. The incoming representative is not only known in the community for his role as councilman, but for being a teacher in Jeffersonville for 28 years.
SENS. GRIFFIN, POL, FORD WIN: State Sen. Michael Griffin defeated Lake County GOP Chairman Dan Dernulc 53.5% to 46.5%. In SD4, State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. defeated Republican Jeff Larsen 52.3% to 47.7% (Howey Politics Indiana). In the open SD14 Tyler Johnson easily won with 72.8%. In SD26, Republican Scott Alexander defeated former legislator Melanie Wright with 76.6%. In SD29, Sen. J.D. Ford nipped Republican Alex Choi 51.5% to 48.5%. In southern Indiana, Sens. Mark Messmer, Chris Garten and Gary Byrne all won easily.
McNAMARA WINS 3-WAY RACE: State Rep. Wendy McNamara won reelection with 63% over Democrat Kathy Rybak who had 32.6% while independent Cheryl Batteiger-Smith had 4.3.% (Howey Politics Indiana).
MILLER LEADING JONES IN HD82: In the new open HD82, Democrat Kyle Miller was leading Davyd Jones 58.8% to 41.2% with 74% reporting (Howey Politics Indiana).
GENDA WINNING OPEN HD41: Republican Mark Genda holds a commanding lead in the race for the new Indiana House District 41 (IBJ). With 72% of the vote counted, Genda is ahead with 74.9% of the vote in his race against Democrat Greg Woods. Genda has 10,200 votes to Woods’ 3,412. The new District 41 includes northern and western Boone County; western, southern and southwestern Clinton County; northeastern Montgomery County; and eastern Tippecanoe County.
HUNLEY WINNING SD46: Democrat Andrea Hunley has won election to the Indiana Senate a newly redrawn district that was moved from the southern part of the state to Indianapolis (IBJ). “We know that we are building momentum and that it’s not just about one election,” Hunley told supporters. “It is about the future, because our democracy depends on it.” With more than 80% of the vote counted, Hunley was leading with 73% of the vote over Republican Evan Shearin.
DEERY WINS OPEN HD23: West Lafayette Republican Spencer Deery, a part of Purdue President Mitch Daniels’ staff, won handily over David Sanders, a Democratic West Lafayette City Council member, for an open seat in a sprawling district (Bangert, Based in Lafayette). “A year ago, I was an everyday person, a policy wonk working in the background, and I want to hang onto that as much as I can,” Deery said. “I do think that it sends a message that everyday people who are qualified can step out there and serve.”
REP. CAMPBELL CRUISES WITH 60%: State Rep. Chris Campbell, a frequent critic of Republican supermajority at the Statehouse, said Tuesday that redistricting ahead of the 2022 election made her district so blue that winning almost seemed like a given (Based in Lafayette). “You cram as many Democrats into one district as possible, and this is going to happen,” Campbell said. “I take it as a vote of confidence. I want to continue to be represent their voice and what they value, at a time when so many voices aren’t being represented and Republicans feel they can do what they want.” Campbell took nearly 60% of the vote in a race against Republican Fred Duttlinger, who oversees Purdue’s civics literacy program. Duttlinger, who entered the race after the May primary, said every district is winnable. “I’m going to miss going door-to-door and meeting people and hearing their stories,” Duttlinger said. “As tough as this is, I’ll take that with me as a great thing.”
SEN. ROGERS WINS: It looks like incumbent Republican Sen. Linda Rogers will keep her District 11 seat, having faced Democrat opponent Mindy Fountain. Both are Granger residents (South Bend Tribune). Rogers gained about 56% of the votes, compared with nearly 44% for Fountain in St. Joseph County alone with 98.% reporting – or 13,997 votes for Rogers versus 10,889 for Fountain. District 11 reaches into Elkhart County, too, where Rogers also saw a strong lead. Rogers said she felt encouraged as she entered Tuesday night, based on thumbs-up she got from voters at the poll as well as responses she got from knocking on “thousands” of doors and making phone calls. “I felt good all along because people were so good to me,” she said. “You don’t have to vote for me for me to help you.”
Nation
MICHIGAN: GOV. WHITMER REELECTED – Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer defeated Republican Tudor Dixon to win a second term after a campaign that tightened in the waning weeks before the midterms (Politico). Whitmer, a Democrat, led in polls throughout the summer, only to see her lead narrow to single digits in the fall. She also boasted a significant campaign cash advantage in the historic race, which was the first gubernatorial contest between two women in the state. Dixon, a conservative media personality who has never held public office, won the backing of the DeVos family, a wealthy powerbroker in Michigan Republican politics, during a chaotic primary season where five candidates were knocked off the ballot amid fraud allegations.
WISCONSIN: EVERS REELECTED – Democratic Gov. Tony Evers defeated Republican business executive Tim Michels in Wisconsin Tuesday night to win reelection in one of the nation’s most tightly divided states (Politico). Wisconsin’s general election for governor was the most expensive in the nation this year, and the results after another tight campaign foreshadow the state’s status as a presidential battleground once again in 2024. President Joe Biden made an appearance in Wisconsin at the beginning of the fall campaign season, and former President Donald Trump rallied for Michels in August. The results mean that Evers will still be able to veto bills passed by the state’s Republican-controlled Legislature. That has been a theme of his governorship: The Democrat issued more vetoes in the last four years than any previous Wisconsin chief executive.
GEORGIA: ABRAMS CONCEDES TO KEMP – Republican Gov. Brian Kemp won reelection to the Georgia governorship Tuesday after defeating Democrat Stacey Abrams a second time (Politico). Kemp held a consistent lead over Abrams in polls throughout the summer and into the fall, but Democrats were hopeful about a last-minute surge for Abrams. “It looks like the reports of my political death have been greatly exaggerated,” Kemp said in his victory speech. “We made sure that Stacey Abrams is not going to be our governor or your next president,” he later added to cheers from the crowd. Meanwhile, Abrams offered her congratulations to the governor, citing the resilience and endurance of everyday Georgians in the face of several “soul-crushing crises” as the reason she campaigned for office a second time.
NEW YORK: HOCHEL DOWNS ZELDIN – Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul won election in New York on Tuesday, making history as the first woman voters have chosen for the state’s highest office (Politico). Hochul took the stage at her packed downtown Manhattan watch party around 11:30. p.m. to cheers and Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” as votes were still being counted and her lead over Republican Rep. Lee Zeldin was narrowing. “The glass ceiling like the one that’s above us here today has finally been shattered in the state of New York, and you made it happen,” she told supporters.
ILLINOIS: PRITZKER WINS REELECTION – Gov. J.B. Pritzker sailed to reelection Tuesday but in a triumphant victory speech, sounded more like a candidate for president with the clarion call, “Are you ready to fight?” in warning against extremism and former President Donald Trump’s “treasonous insurrection,” which he said too many Republicans embrace (AP). The Democrat seized a second term over Republican state Sen. Darren Bailey, who eagerly sought Trump’s endorsement, and in a Chicago speech underscored by frequent chants of “J.B.! J.B.! J.B.!” he hinted at pursuit of an agenda that is far larger than Springfield. Ever the student of history, Pritzker, Illinois’ third Jewish governor, noted that the state’s first, Henry Horner, took office in 1933 in the darkest days of the Great Depression and with European fascism spawning. “Horner said, ‘We all realize that we are living in abnormal and unusual times, times requiring unusually clear thinking and sacrificial action … ’” Pritzker recalled. “That was Henry Horner’s way of asking his audience, ‘Are you ready for the fight?’”
PENNSYLVANIA: SHAPIRO WINS; MASTRIANO DOESN’T CONCEDE – Democratic Attorney General Josh Shapiro won the Pennsylvania governorship in a race that centered around statewide abortion rights, election integrity and even his Jewish faith (Politico). Shapiro defeated MAGA-aligned state Sen. Doug Mastriano. The Republican nominee was successfully framed by Shapiro, and even at times the GOP establishment, as too extreme to lead Pennsylvania. “Your votes … stood up to the extremism that has taken root in some parts of our society,” Shapiro told supporters at his election night party on Tuesday. Mastriano, meanwhile, refused to concede on Tuesday night, telling supporters he would wait until every vote is counted.
OHIO: DeWINE CRUISES TO REELECTION – Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine on Tuesday gained a second term as he defeated challenger Nan Whaley, a Democrat who hoped to regain a seat last won by her party 16 years ago (AP). DeWine prevailed in a surprisingly tight three-way primary in May as conservatives angered by his efforts to slow the spread of the coronavirus sought to unseat him. Whaley handily defeated former Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley in her primary. “This is Ohio’s time in history, things are coming our way,” DeWine said in his victory speech. But he also said unfinished business lay ahead, from ensuring proper prenatal and post-natal care for children, making sure students graduating from high school have a clear pathway to college or other career opportunities, and removing barriers to treatment for addiction and mental illness. “I will continue to push forward and to lead and to talk about the things that we have to do,” DeWine said.
Nation
STILL UNCALLED — AZ-GOV: KATIE HOBBS leads KARI LAKE, 51.0%-49.0% … AZ-SEN: MARK KELLY leads BLAKE MASTERS, 52.1%-45.8% … GA-SEN: RAPHAEL WARNOCK leads HERSCHEL WALKER, 49.4%-48.5%, with a Dec. 6 runoff likely … NV-SEN: ADAM LAXALT leads CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO, 49.9%-47.2% …and *eyes emoji* … CO-03: ADAM FRISCH leads LAUREN BOEBERT, 50.9%-49.1%.
KENTUCKY: OPPONENTS OF ABORTION AMENDMENT DECLARE VICTORY – Opponents claimed victory early Wednesday in their battle to defeat an amendment to eliminate the right to abortion from the state constitution, which would make Kentucky the second state since Kansas to reject such an effort (Louisville Courier-Journal). “This is a historic win for the people of Kentucky,” Rachel Sweet, campaign manager for Protect Kentucky Access, said in a statement released just after midnight. “Not only does it represent a win against government overreach and government interference in the people of Kentucky’s personal medical decisions, it represents the first time so many different organizations have come together with such an intense single-minded purpose to defeat a threat of this magnitude.” While results were unofficial and the Associated Press had yet to call the race as of early Wednesday morning, with 85% of the vote reported, the amendment showed 53% of votes against it and 47% for it.
MICHIGAN: VOTERS OK ABORTION RIGHTS AMENDMENT – Michigan voters approved enshrining the right to an abortion in the state constitution early Wednesday morning through a ballot initiative that knocks down a 1931 state law banning the procedure (Detroit News). With nearly 78% of estimated votes counted, election results showed Proposal 3 had won the support of 56% of Michigan voters who cast ballots in Tuesday’s election. The approved proposal creates a right to “reproductive freedom” in the state Constitution that now encompasses all decisions related to pregnancy and prohibits infringement except in the case of a “compelling state interest.” In the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court decision this summer that struck down a longstanding Roe v. Wade ruling that required abortion access nationwide, the initiative emerged as a contentious statewide issue at the ballot box Tuesday.
MISSOURI: RECREATIONAL CANNABIS WINS – Missouri became the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana after voters approved a ballot measure to amend the state’s constitution and remove prohibitions on the sale, possession and consumption of the drug (The Hill). With the passage of the ballot measure, one of five similar measures that went up for vote across the U.S., the Missouri Constitution will be amended to remove bans on purchasing, owning and selling recreational marijuana for adults over the age of 21.
Local
INDIANAPOLIS: MEARS DECLARES VICTORY – Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears declared victory tonight saying tonight’s result is an affirmation that voters in Indianapolis are looking for an experienced leader with a focus on addressing violent crime and creating a criminal justice system that is fair, respectful, and creates a city where everyone can feel safe (Howey Politics Indiana). “I am truly grateful for the trust that voters have placed in me tonight,” said Mears. “And I’m ready to keep building a justice system worthy of the community’s trust. I will continue to strive to be a prosecutor for the people. We’ve never shied away from the tough calls, because it’s always the right time to do the right thing.” As the Marion County Prosecutor, Mears leads the office with a focus on the most serious crimes and holding the office’s highest conviction rate, while working with the community to build trust, promote fairness, and improve public safety together.
INDIANAPOLIS: CARRASCO CONCEDES – Cyndi Carrasco released the following statement regarding Tuesday’s Election (Howey Politics Indiana): “When we decided to run for Marion County Prosecutor, we knew this was an uphill climb. The odds were stacked against us running as a Republican in a blue county, but the stakes were too high not to try. Indianapolis and all of Marion County has experienced three years of record violence, and what we are doing is simply not working. When we announced our campaign, we set out to make a difference. Our campaign was about change, and although we came up short in our ultimate goal, we have made real, meaningful change. We have talked about accountability for criminals, using existing tools to prevent crime, and partnering with others to keep our communities safe. We have shaped the narrative, and we have had an impact. To Ryan Mears, I offer my congratulations, and hope you will take the trust voters have placed in you to make much-needed changes in our criminal justice system. To my family and friends, to all of our dedicated supporters, and to everyone we’ve met along this journey, thank you. Our efforts were not in vain, and I’m hopeful for Marion County.”
HIGHLAND: MALE POLL WORKER ASSAULTS FEMALE – A male poll worker allegedly struck a female poll worker with an extension cord during a disagreement Monday night at Southridge Elementary School, Highland police said Tuesday (NWI Times). The woman, 37, told officers that while setting up for Tuesday’s election she got into a disagreement with other poll workers about the set-up of voting machines, Cmdr. John Banasiak said. The man, 43, got close to her, she said, and slapped her across the face with the orange cord. She said she hit him in response. The workers had to be separated by others in the gym. Police were dispatched to the location at 5:17 p.m. with a report of battery, Banasiak said. When officers arrived and questioned the man accused of hitting the woman, he said he argued with her but did not hit her with the cord. He did, however, tell officers she punched him and “got into his face,” police said.
LAKE COUNTY: SHERIFF MARTINEZ LEADING – Democratic Lake County Sheriff Oscar Martinez Jr. appeared to be on the road to victory late Tuesday in his bid for reelection (NWI Times). Unofficial election results showed Martinez was likely to prevail in his race against Republican Dave Crane, who campaigned on a promise to increase credibility at a department with a history of corruption. Martinez, who has served as a sheriff’s officer for about 30 years, said he ran for a second four-year term because he’s committed to making all of Lake County a safer place for all.
HAMILTON COUNTY: GARRISON WINS PROSECUTOR – Republican Greg Garrison—a former conservative radio show host—has defeated Democrat Jessica Paxson in a race to be Hamilton County prosecutor (IBJ). Garrison won nearly 57% of the vote to Paxson’s 43%, according to unofficial results.
HAMILTON COUNTY: CONSERVATIVES PICK UP SCHOOL BOARD SEATS – Conservative candidates vying for seats on local school boards in Hamilton County grabbed majority control in one district and picked up seats in two others, according to final, unofficial returns (Herron, IndyStar). A slate of four conservative candidates looking to secure the majority on the Hamilton Southeastern school board swept their opponents Tuesday night. Juanita Albright, Dawn Lang, Ben Orr and Tiffany Pascoe ran together as a slate of like-minded candidates in opposition to the district’s current leadership and priorities. They won decisively; the slimmest margin of victory was more than 14 points. The races for three seats and the majority on the Carmel Clay Schools board have been hotly contested and, at times, ugly. Candidates have accused each other of unfair attacks and of damaging campaign materials. A slate of three conservative candidates were down in early voting but the margin narrowed as returns were tallied. According to unofficial results Tuesday night, one of those candidates secured a seat on the board. Greg Brown beat Jake Nichols by 104 votes − less than 1 percentage point. The other two candidates on the conservative slate running with Brown, Adam Sharp and Jenny Brake lost by similarly narrow margins. Brake lost by 117 votes, less than 1 point, to Kristin Kouka. Sharp lost by fewer than 1,000 votes, about 2.5 points, to incumbent Jennifer Nelson-Williams.
PORTER COUNTY: BALON WINS SHERIFF RACE – Porter County has a new sheriff in town. Valparaiso Chief of Police Jeff Balon defeated former Porter County Police Officer David Reynolds II in Tuesday’s general election (NWI Times). He will take over Jan. 1, replacing Democrat Dave Reynolds, who is prohibited from running again due to term limits. Balon received 55.35% of the vote, whereas Reynolds only received 44.65%. Results wobbled back and forth between candidates throughout the night. The first county update saw Balon beating Reynolds, whereas the second update showed the opposite. By the third update at 8:30 p.m., however, Balon led by more than 6.5% or 2,709 votes.
ALLEN COUNTY: HERSHBERGER WINS SHERIFF – The Allen County Sheriff race between Republican nominee Troy Hershberger and Democratic nominee Kevin Hunter has reached its conclusion. WANE 15 reporter Rex Smith noted Hershberger thanked his family and supporters during his winning speech. Democratic nominee Kevin Hunter has conceded the race.
TIPPECANOE COUNTY: GOLDSMITH REELECTED AS SHERIFF – Democrat Bob Goldsmith won 59% of the vote in his re-election bid against Jason Huber, executive director of Tippecanoe County Community Corrections. Goldsmith said he chalked it up to voters being familiar with how he’s run the sheriff’s office over the past four years (Based in Lafayette). “I think we’ve done a good job – not a perfect job, but a good job,” Goldsmith said. “Now, I have to go back out and prove it again for the next four years.”