Hoosier Primary Recap Features Long Thompson Victory

Advertisement

(UNDATED) - Indiana’s presidential primary wasn’t the state’s only election-night cliffhanger.

Jill Long Thompson has narrowly won the Democratic nomination for governor, defeating architect Jim Schellinger by fewer than 7,000 votes.

Thompson represented Allen County in Congress for five years, and the county rewarded her with a 70% win that gave her the cushion she needed.

Congressional incumbents Mark Souder, Steve Buyer and Baron Hill crushed primary challengers, while Dan Burton and Andre Carson won narrower victories.

One state representative did lose his seat. Valparaiso Democrat Greg Simms had won a party caucus after one legislator resigned and his successor died. The two losing candidates in the caucus filed for the primary, and voters picked former Portage school board member Chuck Moseley over Simms by a 2-to-1 margin.

The primary sets up rematches in four of Indiana's nine congressional districts. Hill will face former Republican Congressman Mike Sodrel for a fourth straight time, while Republican Mark Leyva won a four-way race to take on First District Representative Pete Visclosky again.

Indianapolis representative Jon Elrod easily won the Republican primary in the 7th District for the chance to face Carson in a rematch of the March special election.

6th District Congressman Mike Pence and Democrat Barry Welsh were unopposed in their primaries, making a do-over of their 2006 race automatic.

Burton will face former Gas City mayoral candidate Mary Etta Ruley, who got just under half the Democratic vote in a three-way race.

2nd District Congressman Joe Donnelly will face Goshen business owner Luke Puckett. Puckett won a three-way race marred by controversy after one of his opponents, Tony Zirkle, attended a birthday party for Adolf Hitler. Zirkle finished third with 16% of the vote.

Print this story