2018 United States Senate election in Indiana


The 2018 United States Senate election in Indiana took place on November 6, 2018, along with other elections to the United States Senate and House of Representatives and various state and local elections. Incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly sought reelection to a second term, facing Republican businessman and former state representative Mike Braun and Libertarian Party nominee Lucy Brenton. In 2017, Politico described the race as "possibly the GOP's best opportunity to seize a Senate seat from Democrats" in the 2018 elections. The primary election was held on May 8, 2018. In October 2018, RealClearPolitics rated the race a toss-up between the Democratic and Republican nominees, with the Libertarian receiving a poll average of 6%. Braun defeated Donnelly in the general election by a margin of 5.9 percent, similar to Donnelly's margin of victory in 2012.

Background

In 2012, Joe Donnelly was elected to the Senate with 50% of the vote to Republican nominee Richard Mourdock's 44%. In the 2016 presidential election, Republican nominee Donald Trump won Indiana with about 56.5% of the vote to Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's 37.5%.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Polling

Results

Independent

Candidates

Declared

Candidates

Fundraising

Endorsements

Polling

Hypothetical polling------

;with Todd Rokita

Results

On November 6, 2018, Braun won the general election. He swept southern Indiana, the suburbs of Indianapolis, and most other rural areas in the state. Donnelly ran well behind his 2012 vote totals, winning only in Indianapolis, the college towns, and Northwest Indiana.

By congressional district

Braun won 6 of 9 congressional districts.
DistrictBraunDonnellyElected
Representative
37.9%60.6%Pete Visclosky
51.0%45.5%Jackie Walorski
59.6%36.7%Jim Banks
57.9%37.4%Jim Baird
47.9%48.4%Susan Brooks
60.8%34.3%Greg Pence
31.8%64.5%André Carson
57.3%38.4%Larry Bucshon
54.3%41.5%Trey Hollingsworth

Official campaign websites

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