The blue wave turned into a ripple when it reached Indiana on Election Day, Nov. 6. Republican Mike Braun adopted President Donald Trump’s rhetoric and name-calling to oust incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, leaving Hoosier Democrats without a statewide-elected official. Braun, who lagged slightly behind Donnelly in polls leading up to the election, was nearly 10 points ahead of Donnelly with 92 percent of precincts reported. Donnelly, elected to the Senate in 2013, tried to pitch himself as a moderate who could work with both sides, going as far to say he supports funding for Trump’s border wall. Braun served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2014-16.
In Indiana’s House District 7, Democratic incumbent André Carson won his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives, defeating challenger Wayne Harmon by about 23 points. Carson’s closest margin of victory in four elections was 13 points in 2014. Peter Visclosky, from District 1 in northwest Indiana, was the only other Hoosier Democrat to be elected to the House.
Election results for Marion County:
Marion County Auditor
Caarn Singh Heir (R) 37%
Julie L. Voorhies (D) 62%
Marion County Clerk
Myla A. Eldridge (D) 61%
Kyle Leffel (R) 39%
Marion County Prosecutor
Terry R. Curry (D) 63%
Benjamin D. Strahim (R) 37%
Marion County Recorder
Paul Annee (R) 39%
Kate Sweeney Bell (D) 39% (winner)
Marion County Sheriff
Brian K. Durham (R) 38%
Kerry Joseph Forestal (D) 62 %
Marion County Small Claims Court Judges,
Lawrence Township
Kimberly Bacon (D) 60%
David M. Seiter (R) 40%
Warren Township
Garland E. Graves (D) 60%
Susan Marie Smith (R) 40%
Washington Township
Matthew Ryan Dodson (R) 34%
Steven G. Poore (D) 66%
Wayne Township
Gerald B. Coleman (D) 59%
Bob Lutz (R) 41%
Clermont Town Council, At Large
(choose three)
Richard Lee Bardetscher
22 % (winner)
Patty Lybrook 27%
Lora L. Miller 30%
James Wide 22%
Decatur Township Constable,
Marion County
Justin Forrest (D) 39%
Darrell Lee McGaha (R) 61%
Decatur Township Trustee,
Marion County
Mark Auberry (D) 37%
Stephen C. Rink (R) 63%
Franklin Township Constable,
Marion County
Jeffrey L. Duhammel (R) 76%
Phil Suiters (I) 24 %
Lawrence Township Trustee,
Marion County
Michael E. Reeves (R) 41%
Steve Talley (D) 59%
Perry Township Constable
Jason Fletcher (D) 38%
David Taylor (R) 62%
Perry Township Trustee,
Marion County
Anthony Adrian (D) 3%
Nancy Sue Day (R) 64%
Warren Township Constable, Marion County
Keith E. Hartman Jr. (R) 40%
Charles W. Staples Sr. (D) 60%
Warren Township Trustee, Marion County
Vernon A. Brown (D) 62%
Michael-Paul Hart (R) 38%
Wayne Township, Trustee, Marion County
Andrew B. Harris Jr. (R) 43%
Charles J. Jones (D) 56%
Indianapolis Public Schools, At large
Susan J. Collins 44%
Mary Hampo-Stanley 0%
Joanna Elizabeth
Krumel 14%
Mary Ann Sullivan 42%
Indianapolis Public Schools, District 3
Evan S. Hawkins 52%
Michele Lorbieski 34%
Ellia Stephen Noto 0%
Sherry Lynne Shelton 14%
Indianapolis Public Schools, District 5
Dorene Rodriguez
Hoops 40%
Taira L. Stack 60%
Donnelley loses, Carson continues to win
