- By Sydney Byerly, TheStatehouseFile.com.
Republicans kept their lock on the Indiana Statehouse Tuesday as secretary of state nominee Diego Morales dashed Democratic hopes of a statewide win and the GOP supermajorities remained intact in both the state Senate and House.
Republicans also scored statewide wins with U.S. Sen Todd Young winning a second term by easily outpolling Democratic opponent Thomas McDermott and the GOP nominees for state auditor and treasurer winning by wide margins.
“Coast to coast, we know Americans are poised to send a defiant message—stop the reckless spending and start enforcing the law,†Young said as the crowd cheered in front of him.
“This Marine is ready to go back to Washington to fight against the Biden-Harris agenda wherever necessary. But I am also ready to work across party lines to conquer America’s challenges and to defeat our enemies abroad.â€
In his concession speech, McDermott reflected on the time he had spent with Hoosiers from across the state.
“I just wish Todd Young well over the next six years. I mean it with all my heart; the better he does the better our state does,†he said.
Morales held a slightly narrower margin over Democrat Destiny Wells and Libertarian Jeff Maurer, but his lead over Wells stood at about 130,000 votes with about half of the state’s precincts reporting.
“The truth always prevails,’’ Morales said in declaring victory. He did so amid criticism and scrutiny of his past, including his employment history in the office of the secretary of state, his portrayals of his military service and allegations of sexual misconduct by two former colleagues, which Morales denied.
In her concession speech, Wells urged her supporters not to stop.
“It won’t take just many of us—it is going to take all of us,†she said. “Do not let this moment be lost upon us for the next couple of years. The work starts tomorrow.â€
Maurer had hoped to gain primary ballot access for Libertarians by winning 10% of the vote in the secretary of state race—the litmus test for ballot access under Indiana election law—but appeared to be falling short of that goal.
The best news for Indiana Democrats might have come from northwestern Indiana’s 1st Congressional District, where first-term Democrat Frank Mrvan was holding a lead over Republican Jennifer-Ruth Green. The district had been seen as a possible pickup for Republicans as they sought to strengthen their newly won majority in the U.S. House.
Mrvan’s victory would keep intact a 7-2 Republican advantage in the state’s congressional delegation.
“Elections don’t happen on social media. Movements are not just created in the city hall. They are created by the people who work, and you all have done the work today. Piece by piece, brick by brick, we have started to rebuild our democracy,†said incumbent Democrat Andre Carson, who easily won an eighth term representing the Indianapolis area in Congress.
In the Indiana House, Democratic Rep. Terri Jo Austin of Anderson, a 10-term incumbent, was trailing her Republican opponent, Kyle Pierce, with 99% of precincts reporting.
Her loss would be offset by an apparent Democratic pickup in Fort Wayne’s House District 82, which was redrawn in the 2021 redistricting, Democrat Kyle Miller held a healthy lead over his Republican opponent with most precincts reporting.
Democrats also were ahead in early returns from several districts in suburban districts north of Indianapolis, but their Republican opponents appeared to be pulling ahead as the vote totals continued to come in.
In the Indiana Senate, Republicans scored a win in District 31, where appointed Republican incumbent Kyle Walker scored an easier-than-expected win over Democrat Jocelyn Vare. The suburban district northeast of Indianapolis had been seen as an opportunity for a Democratic pickup due to the party’s strong showing in recent local races.
