Indiana

Indiana Elections

Primary Date: May 8, 2012

Indiana’s elections are going to be a major uphill climb for Democrats, however, the two statewide races should prove a little easier than district-based legislative races.

For Senate, should incumbent Republican Sen. Richard Lugar lose to State Treasurer (and Tea Party favorite) Robert Mourdock, that may leave a more open road for current Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly to steal the seat long held by the GOP.

The race for the governor’s mansion is also going to be interesting, as popular Republican incumbent Gov. Mitch Daniels is term-limited out of office, and the biggest Republican name at the moment running for his seat is 6th Dist. Republican Rep. Mike Pence, a polarizing figure even in the Hoosier State.  Pence’s big relief comes in the fact that, of the two Democratic challengers, only one has a reputation as a serious candidate.

Overall, the 2011 redistricting process strengthened all Republican districts, while compromising two of the three Democratically-held districts (IN-02, IN-07) while shoring up the third one (IN-01).

District maps:  2010 US Congress  2012 US Congress

2012 Statewide Elections:

Indiana General Assembly:

There’s not much more advantage to be gained for Republicans in the Indiana Senate, with their already-crushing 37-17 majority, however, the GOP could still pick a couple seats up in the upper chamber on account of redistricting.  The same can be said for Republicans in the Indiana House, as the gerrymandering here is even more pronounced.  For example, the Democratic stronghold of Bloomington is divided up amongst five districts for 2012.