1982 United States Senate election in Indiana

1982 United States Senate election in Indiana

←  1976 November 2, 1982 1988  →

Nominee Richard Lugar Floyd Fithian Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 978,301 828,400 Percentage 53.83% 45.58%

County results Lugar:     40-50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80% Fithian:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%

U.S. senator before election Richard Lugar Republican Elected U.S. Senator Richard Lugar Republican

The 1982 United States Senate election in Indiana was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Richard Lugar faced Democratic United States Representative Floyd Fithian in the general election. Lugar won with a margin of 54% of the vote, compared to Fithian's 46%. This was Lugar's closest election out of his 6 senate elections for the class 1 seat.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Richard Lugar, incumbent U.S. Senator

Results

Incumbent United States Senator Richard Lugar won the Republican nomination in an uncontested primary on May 4, 1982. ^[1]

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Lugar (Incumbent)	498,248	100
Total votes			498,248

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Floyd Fithian, U.S. Representative from Tippecanoe County
• Michael Kendall, State Senator from Jasper

Campaign

After the 1980 Census, the Indiana General Assembly redistricted Indiana's congressional districts, pushing Democratic representative Floyd Fithian's district into more conservative territory. ^[2] After redistricting, Fithian, the three term incumbent of Indiana's 2nd congressional district, decided to run for Secretary of State of Indiana, but withdrew from the primary to ultimately run for the United States Senate. He challenged fellow Democrat and one term Indiana State Senator Michael Kendall of Jasper, Indiana, who Fithian earlier encouraged to run for the Senate. ^[3] Kendall, who represented Indiana's 47th Senate district and formed the Notre Dame Students for Robert F. Kennedy organization during the 1968 presidential election, ^[4] was seen a young progressive alternative to Fithian, who he called the "ideological twin of Richard Lugar." ^[5] After the bitterly contested primary, Fithian prevailed over Kendall, winning with 59% of the vote. ^[6]

Results

Democratic primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Floyd Fithian	262,644	59.5
	Democratic	Michael Kendall	178,702	40.5
Total votes			441,346	100

General election

In the general election, Lugar faced Fithian and American Party candidate Raymond James. ^[7]

On November 5, 1982, Lugar defeated Fithian and James in the general election, winning 74 of Indiana's 93 counties. ^[8]

United States Senate election in Indiana, 1982 ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Richard Lugar (Incumbent)	978,301	53.8
	Democratic	Floyd Fithian	828,400	45.6
	American	Raymond James	10,568	0.6
	Republican hold

See also

• 1982 United States Senate elections
• 1982 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana

References

1. Monica Davey (April 17, 2012). "Once Every 36 Years, Primary Fight for Indiana Senator". nytimes.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
2. "Floyd Fithian, 76; Congressman, Farmer, Purdue Professor". latimes.com. July 4, 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
3. Associated Press (May 5, 1982). "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade . Retrieved February 22, 2013.
4. Ray E. Boomhower (2008). Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary. Indiana University Press. ISBN   978-0253007759 . Retrieved February 22, 2013.
5. "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade . Associated Press. May 5, 1982. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
6. "IN US Senate – D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. June 13, 2005. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
7. Thomas A. Ladd, Benjamin J. Guthrie (May 5, 1983). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1982" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
8. "IN US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. June 15, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2013.