By The Numbers: Trends And Takeaways From The General Assembly Election Races
By The Numbers: Trends And Takeaways From The General Assembly Election Races
- By Jack Sells, TheStatehouseFile.com
- Nov 25, 2022
INDIANAPOLIS—The Indiana General Assembly came to work at the Statehouse Tuesday for Organization Day, and elected officials—both new and old—filled the chambers.
This election cycle, Republicans lost a seat in the House, but it ended up evening out, as they added another in the Senate. This gives them 70 of the 100 House seats and 30 out of 40 in the Senate.
Indiana senators take the oath of office, led by Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush. Tuesday was Organization Day, the first official day of the Indiana General Assembly’s legislative period.
By Tabby Fitzgerald, TheStatehouseFile.com
This solidifies the GOP’s supermajority status in both chambers for another two years and, for those who follow Indiana politics, makes the party breakdowns nice, round numbers that are easy to remember.
A closer look at some of the numbers around the races reveal some other interesting tidbits and patterns.
Margin of victory
The average margin of victory, not counting uncontested races, was higher in the House races—30.2 percentage points—than in the Senate—27.
Not only did Republicans win more often, when they did, it was more convincing. In the House, the GOP averaged wins of 35 percentage points compared to 19.1 for the Democrats, and in the Senate, the breakdown was 28.9 and 17.9, respectively.
(Excluded from these averages are the House District 81 and 90 races, as write-in candidates took less than 2% of the vote in each case, giving the winners, Rep. Mike Speedy, R-Indianapolis, and Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne, massive margins of victory.)
Four of the five biggest wins came from Republicans, but with a 65.2-percentage-point margin of victory, Rep. Vanessa Summers, D-Indianapolis, had the largest triumph.
A repeat appearance since 2020 on this hypothetical top-five list comes from Rep. Craig Snow, R-Warsaw. Snow won by 56.2 percentage points in 2020 (good for second-biggest margin), was redistricted and then won this year by 63 percentage points (good for third-best).
Two years ago, Rep. Rita Fleming, D-Jeffersonville, had only a third-party candidate to face off against and won handedly—by 55.2 percentage points. This year, her reelection attempt was no sure bet.
Not everyone can be a big winner—or a winner at all
The closest races were also all for House seats. And they were closer than in 2020, with five races determined by 2 percentage points or less.
View from the public gallery of the Indiana House Chamber prior to the start of the session Tuesday. The room was packed for Organization Day, the first official day of the 123rd General Assembly.
By Sydney Byerly, TheStatehouseFile.com
The people of House District 62 really had incoming Republican Rep. Dave Hall and Democrat Penny Githens biting their nails, as Hall received 12,990 votes—just 40 more than Githens.
Other close wins included Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis, by 2%; incoming GOP Rep. Kyle Pierce by 1.8% (over former Rep. Terri Austin); Fleming by 1.2%; and Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn by 1%.
Election Days are likely especially nerve wracking for Gore, as he also had a close victory in 2020, winning only 51.3% to 48.7%.
Uncontested races
After two straight election cycles of 31 uncontested House races, there were 42 in 2022—44 if you count the House District 81 and 90 races.
Maybe less surprising was the fact that these races favored Republicans by a count of 31 to 13—which means that as many House races as Democrats won in total, Republicans won unchallenged.
This has been an emerging trend over the last four years. In 2020, the GOP took more uncontested races than Democrats, but in 2018, 21 Democratic wins were uncontested versus only 10 for Republicans.
For each party, around 44% of their wins were unchallenged in the House.
Looking at a smaller sample size in the Senate, eight of the GOP’s 22 wins were uncontested, while none of the Democrats’ three wins went without an opponent.
Also notably, while there were more one-candidate contests, third-party candidates stepped up in five cases, becoming the second option. This was after the 2020 election in which only one Libertarian took home the consolation prize of second place.
FOOTNOTE: Jack Sells is a reporter at TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
Hostile Hoops Community Classic On Tap For UE Men
Hostilo Hoops Community Classic On Tap For UE Men
Aces set for three games in three days
 SAVANNAH, Ga. – Savannah, Georgia will be the scene of the Hostilo Hoops Community Classic, which will see the University of Evansville men’s basketball team open play on Friday evening against South Alabama.
Tip is set for 5:30 p.m. CT at Enmarket Arena with the Purple Aces Radio Network and BeTheBeast having the coverage.
Weekend Outlook
– Evansville and South Alabama are set to meet for the 5th time in their histories and the first contest since 1994; UE has won three of the first four match-ups
– Robert Morris will be the second opponent on Saturday evening in the second meeting between the schools (UE won a meeting in December of 1996)
– For the first time on the hardwood, the Purple Aces take on Fairfield in Sunday’s finale
Last Time Out
– In another hard-fought contest, Evansville gave UCF all it could handle before a late stretch gave the Knights a 76-56 win
– Kenny Strawbridge Jr. was the leading scorer in the contest, totaling 20 points on 8-of-19 shooting
– Antoine Smith Jr. and Blaise Beauchamp scored nine apiece
– UE scored the opening six points of the game and would trail by just five at the break…in the second half, UE got within two points before the Knights pulled away
Back in Form
– Kenny Strawbridge Jr. reached the 20-point mark for the third time this season as he scored 20 at UCF
– He attempted a career-high 19 shots
– For the season, he ranks 10th in the Valley with 16.2 points per game
– He has attempted at least 13 shots in all five games
– Knocking down 9 of his 17 attempts, Strawbridge scored 23 points to lead UE to a 78-74 win at Miami Ohio
Scorching the Nets
– Blaise Beauchamp averaged just 4.67 points per game in the opening three games but has rebounded to average 12.5 points in the last two
– At SMU, he scored a season-high 16 points while hitting four triples (he hit a total of three triples in the first three games)
– Beauchamp followed that up with 9 points at UCF while adding two more treys
– He played a season-high 33:42 in the contest in Dallas
Leader on the Boards
– For the second time this year, Marvin Coleman II tied his career-high with 12 rebounds at UCF after doing the same against SEMO
– His average of 7.6 rebounds per game is 5th in the MVC
– Coleman is averaging 7 PPG on the season and hit that mark at UCF while draining a triple to complete the first half
– He connected on three of his four free throw attempts in the final seconds to ice the season-opening victory at Miami Ohio
Scouting the Opponent
– South Alabama comes into the weekend tournament with a 1-3 record, but the Jaguars have played well against top competition
– Following a 97-59 win over Mobile in the season opener, the Jaguars fell by just six at New Mexico
– USA dropped a 10-point game to Alabama before coming up just four points short at Oklahoma
– Isaiah Moore paces the Jaguars with 19.5 points per game while chipping in 4.0 rebounds
– Kevin Samuel checks in with 11.5 points and a team-best 9.3 caroms per contest
Lawmakers gather for Organization Day
Today, I gathered with fellow lawmakers at the Statehouse for Organization Day — the ceremonial start of the 123rd Indiana General Assembly. Â
Organization Day includes the swearing in of new and returning members of the General Assembly. This day also marks the annual first roll call of all state lawmakers and gives each Senate and House of Representatives caucus the opportunity to organize in preparation for the 2023 legislative session. Â
During the first session of each General Assembly, lawmakers craft a comprehensive budget to fund government services for the next two fiscal years.  Â
It is always an honor to return to the Statehouse each session to represent my district. The General Assembly will be working on our state budget this year, and it is important to me that we create legislation that assists Hoosiers where they need it most.
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As the 2023 session begins, I encourage you to contact me with any questions or comments you may have by email at Senator.Becker@iga.in.gov or by phone at 800-382-9467.
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Todd Rokita Invites Hoosiers To Visit IndianaUnclaimed.gov
Todd Rokita Invites Hoosiers To Visit IndianaUnclaimed.gov
Stop, drop, and pass the rolls! Attorney General Todd Rokita invites Hoosiers to visit IndianaUnclaimed.gov to see if they have more than just casserole waiting this holiday.Â
“The last couple of years, Americans have been burdened with increases in their grocery bills, so extra cash in your wallet is a little gravy on top,†Attorney General Rokita said. “My office is committed to serving the people and protecting their individual liberty. Getting unclaimed property back in the hands of Hoosiers is a top priority.â€Â
Christmas is perhaps one of the most widely celebrated holidays of the year, so let’s give ’em something to talk about this season. In 2021, Attorney General Rokita’s office returned over $48 million in unclaimed property to its rightful owners. This year alone, the Office has returned over $50 million.
This holiday combines some of our favorite things – no work, no school, the company of good family and friends, and of course, tons of great food. But while you’re sitting around the table, it’s also a good time to ask loved ones about assets.Â
Here’s how to make sure your property doesn’t go unclaimed:Â
- Keep a record of all bank accounts.Â
- Record all stock certificates and be sure to cash all dividends received.Â
- Record all utility deposits, including telephone, cable, and electricity deposits.Â
- Cash all checks promptly.Â
- Update your address with all businesses when you move.Â
- Talk to loved ones about any safe deposit boxes you own.Â
Once unclaimed property is in its custody, the Unclaimed Property Division at Attorney General Rokita’s office conducts outreach efforts to locate the rightful owners or heirs.  Â
Individuals and/or businesses have 25 years to claim money once it is reported to the Unclaimed Property Division.  Â
Over $700 million remains to be claimed, so it’s time to put away the leftovers and find something else to be thankful for at IndianaUnclaimed.gov or text CLAIM to 46220 to search your name, family, or business. Â
USI Ceramics II Students Present “The Lamp” Project at New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art
The University of Southern Indiana and BG Projects are proud to present The Lamp Project, a group show featuring ceramic installations by USI Ceramics II students at the New Harmony Gallery of Contemporary Art (NHGCA) in New Harmony, Indiana. The exhibition will be on display November 12 through December 17. An opening reception will take place from 4-6 p.m. November 12 at the NHGCA. Regular NHGCA hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
The Lamp Project is an experimental student-driven exhibition, exploring functional ceramics through the material of light-giving objects. The lamp as a form provides a useful touchstone to explore the aesthetic values of the handmade and the more familiar aesthetics of consumerism and material culture. Ranging from the cute, the kitsch, the hungry, the romantic and the occasionally austere, each individual contribution offers a thematically playful and unique approach to both form and content.
Artists featured in the exhibit include Ashley Banks, Lunar Bowen, Caro Burks, Elizabeth Garland, Zoe Lawrence, Mia Mitchell, Katherine (Kassi) Norton, Katelynn Roy, Jaeda Thompson and Leanne Werkmeister.
NHGCA is dedicated to enhancing the experiences of students through BG Projects, an artist-run exhibition space in the back gallery. BG Projects at NHGCA allows students to exhibit, experiment, and/or curate within a working contemporary art gallery setting. Through exhibition and curatorial strategies, students can envision new possibilities for collaborations and their art practice. NHGCA promotes discourse about and access to contemporary art in the Southern Indiana region.
Old National Bank Junior Aces Reading Program Unveiled
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Purple Aces Athletics has teamed up with Old National Bank to create the Old National Bank Junior Aces Reading Program. Ace Purple challenges all children in fifth grade or under to read 5 books over the course of the upcoming basketball season! Upon completion, submit the form and you will win two (2) free tickets to a University of Evansville men’s basketball game this season.
“Providing and supporting education is a major focus at Old National and we are proud to serve as presenting sponsor of the Junior Aces Reading Program,†said Sara Miller, Old National Bank Market President.
Directions for the Old National Bank Junior Aces Reading Program are:
- Print out a Junior Aces Book Tracker to display your child’s progress.
- Start Reading! Fill in books on the tracker as you go.
- When five books have been finished, complete the form below!
- Show off your completed book tracker on social media! Use the hashtag #ONBRead (Optional)
- Be on the lookout for an email with ticket instructions!
The final day to submit the completion form is February 1, 2023.
“The Old National Bank Junior Aces Reading Program is a great step forward in our desire in the Athletics Department to continue to place an emphasis on community outreach. Thanks to the generous support of Old National Bank we are able to launch this program that truly will make a difference,†UE Director of Athletics Dr. Ziggy Siegfried stated. “I want to thank Old National Bank, Brandon McClish and Nicole Tucker from Purple Aces Sports Properties, and all of our coaches for their commitment to making a difference in our community. Go Aces!â€
An additional aspect of the program will include UE student-athletes and coaches reading in local classrooms.
Please contact Nicole Tucker at nicole.tucker@purpleacessportsproperties.com with any question
USI Annual Madrigal Feaste Returns December 1-4
The University of Southern Indiana Chamber Choir will host the annual Madrigal Feaste December 1-4 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West on the USI campus. December 1-3 performances will begin at 6 p.m. with doors opening at 6:30 p.m., and the December 4 matinee performance will begin at 1 p.m. with doors opening at 12:30 p.m.
First performed in 1969 and USI’s most enduring musical tradition, the Madrigal Feaste takes guests back to Fifteenth Century Ireland as the choir entertains with selections of old English madrigals, Irish traditional folk songs and carols, as well as stirring choral selections for the holiday season.
Performances combine vocal and instrumental music, dancing, drama, elegant Renaissance garb and fine dining. The event is sponsored by Berger Wealth Services and is the first Madrigal Feaste USI has held since 2019.
This year’s menu will include salad, soup of beef and barley, herb baked chicken and vegetables and bread pudding with rum sauce.
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
EPD DAILY ACTIVITY REPORT
FOOTNOTE: This information was provided by the EPD and posted by the City-County-County Observer without opinion, bias, or editing.