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United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2008

 

United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2008

Elections in Indiana

The 2008 congressional elections in Indiana were held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Indiana in the United States House of Representatives. Indiana has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 3, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The elections coincide with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The current delegation comprises five Democrats and four Republicans. All 9 incumbents won re-election.

District makeup

District makeup
District 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th 8th 9th
Incumbent Pete Visclosky Joe Donnelly Mark Souder Steve Buyer Dan Burton Mike Pence André Carson Brad Ellsworth Baron Hill
CPVI D+8 R+4 R+16 R+17 R+20 R+11 D+9 R+9 R+7
CQ Rating[1] Safe D Safe D Leans R Safe R Safe R Safe R Safe D Safe D D Favored

Overview

United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2008[2]
Party Votes Percentage Seats +/–
Democratic 1,388,963 51.89% 5 -
Republican 1,240,577 46.34% 4 -
Libertarian 47,306 1.77% 0 -
Independents 4 <0.01% 0 -
Totals 2,676,850 100.00% 9 -

District 1

This district includes a small strip of northwest Indiana and has been represented by Democrat Pete Visclosky since January 1985. The district has been one of the most Democratic in Indiana. John Kerry defeated George W. Bush in this district 55% to 44% in 2004. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Democrat.

Results

Indiana's 1st congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Pete Visclosky (inc.) 199,954 70.90%
Republican Mark Leyva 76,647 27.18%
Libertarian Jeff Duensing 5,421 1.92%
Totals 282,022 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 2

This district is centered on South Bend, Indiana and the Indiana portion of the Michiana region. It has been represented by Democrat Joe Donnelly since January 2007. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Democrat.

Polling

Source Date Democrat: Joe Donnelly Republican: Luke Puckett
Research 2000
South Bend Tribune/ 		September 29-30, 2008 53% 35%

Results

Indiana's 2nd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Joe Donnelly (inc.) 187,416 67.09%
Republican Luke Puckett 84,455 30.23%
Libertarian Mark Vogel 7,475 2.68%
Totals 279,346 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 3

This district is located in the northeast corner of Indiana and has a large population center in Fort Wayne. Republican Mark Souder has represented the district since January 1995, and is being challenged by Mike Montagano in 2008. CQ Politics forecast the race as Leans Republican. George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in this district 68% to 31%.

Polling

Source Date Democrat: Mike Montagano Republican: Mark Souder
Howey Gauge October 23-24, 2008 44% 41%
Research 2000 October 16-18, 2008 40% 45%
Winston Group October 15-16, 2008 41% 50%
Cooper and Secrest October 6-7, 2008 39% 44%
Cooper and Secrest April 24-27, 2008 28% 55%

Results

Indiana's 3rd congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mark Souder (inc.) 155,693 55.04%
Democratic Mike Montagano 112,309 39.70%
Libertarian William R. Larsen 14,877 5.26%
Totals 282,879 100.00%
Republican hold

District 4

This district is located in west-central Indiana. Located within the district is the city of West Lafayette, Lafayette, Bedford, Monticello, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Zionsville, Lebanon, Frankfort, Greenwood and parts of Indianapolis and many smaller suburban towns. It has been represented by Republican Steve Buyer since January 1993. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Republican.

Polling

Source Date Democrat: Nels Ackerson Republican: Steve Buyer
Journal & Courier September 12-14, 2008 36% 38%

Results

Indiana's 4th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Steve Buyer (inc.) 192,526 59.87%
Democratic Nels Ackerson 129,038 40.13%
Totals 321,564 100.00%
Republican hold

District 5

This district located mostly north of Republican Dan Burton. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Republican.

Results

Indiana's 5th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Dan Burton (inc.) 234,705 65.55%
Democratic Mary Etta Ruley 123,357 34.45%
Totals 358,062 100.00%
Republican hold

District 6

This district takes in a large portion of eastern Indiana, including the cities of Muncie, Anderson, and Richmond. It is currently represented by Republican Mike Pence. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Republican.

Results

Indiana's 6th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Mike Pence (inc.) 180,608 63.95%
Democratic Barry Welsh 94,265 33.38%
Libertarian George T. Holland 7,539 2.67%
Totals 282,412 100.00%
Republican hold

District 7

This district is in the heart of Central Indiana and encompasses most of Marion County/Indianapolis. André Carson won the special election to fill this seat and has represented Indiana's 7th congressional district since March 13, 2008. After winning contested primary elections, Carson and his Republican challenger in the special election, Jon Elrod, were set to face off in the General Election but Elrod dropped out.[3] Gabrielle Campo was selected by a party caucus to face the incumbent, Carson.[4] John Kerry defeated George W. Bush in this district 58% to 41% in 2004. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Democratic.

Polling

Source Date Democrat: André Carson Republican: Gabrielle Campo
Research 2000/WISH-TV October 24-28, 2008 53% 38%
Research 2000/WISH-TV September 29-October 3, 2008 51% 35%

Results

Indiana's 7th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (inc.) 172,650 65.08%
Republican Gabrielle Campo 92,645 34.92%
Write-ins 4 0.00%
Totals 265,299 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 8

This district has been nicknamed the "Bloody Eighth" because of a series of hard-fought tight campaigns and political reversals.[5] It ousted six incumbents from 1966 to 1982. The election in 1984 was so close that it was decided in Congress. In 2000, a New York Times reporter said of the district: "With a populist streak and a conservative bent, this district does not cotton to country-club Republicans or to social-engineering liberals," and also said "More than 95 percent white and about 41 percent rural, the region shares much of the flavor of the Bible Belt."[6] Evansville and Terre Haute are located within its limits and is currently represented by Democrat Brad Ellsworth. CQ Politics forecast the race as Safe Democratic.

Results

Indiana's 8th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Brad Ellsworth (inc.) 188,693 64.74%
Republican Greg Goode 102,769 35.26%
Totals 291,462 100.00%
Democratic hold

District 9

This district is located in southeast Indiana. This swing district has been recently fought out by Democrat Baron Hill and Republican Mike Sodrel. Hill beat Sodrel in 2002, Sodrel beat Hill in 2004, and most recently Hill beat Sodrel in 2006 to become the 9th's representative. Hill spent the most on his campaign of those in Indiana, spending $2.2 million.[7] The largest city located within the district is Bloomington followed by Columbus, New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Clarksville which all have Democratic Mayors or Council Presidents. CQ Politics forecast the race as Democrat Favored.

Polling

Source Date Democrat: Baron Hill Republican: Mike Sodrel
Survey USA October 22-23, 2008 54% 39%
Survey USA October 4-5, 2008 53% 38%
Research 2000/WISH-TV September 29-October 3, 2008 49% 37%
Survey USA September 8-10, 2008 50% 39%
Survey USA July 28-30, 2008 49% 42%
Survey USA June 16-18, 2008 51% 40%

Results

Indiana's 9th congressional district election, 2008
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Baron Hill (inc.) 181,281 57.77%
Republican Mike Sodrel 120,529 38.41%
Libertarian D. Eric Schansberg 11,994 3.82%
Totals 313,804 100.00%
Democratic hold

See also

References

  1. ^ "Balance of Power Scorecard: House". CQ Politics. 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-05-11. 
  2. ^ http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/electionInfo/2008/2008Stat.htm#stateIN
  3. ^ : Elrod drops race against Andre CarsonIndystar.com
  4. ^ : GOP selects a newcomer to face CarsonIndystar.com
  5. ^ "General election". 
  6. ^ Dirk Johnson, "The 2000 Campaign: An Indiana Race; Conservatives Face Off in Quirky Populist District", New York Times, October 10, 2000
  7. ^ Groppe, Maureen (December 6, 2008). "Baron Hill's win over Mike Sodrel most expensive".  

External links

Preceded by
2006 elections 		United States House elections in Indiana
2008 		Succeeded by
2010 elections
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