The delegation comprised five Democrats and four Republicans. All 9 incumbents won re-election. As of 2025, this is the last time in which Democrats won both a majority of U.S. House seats and the House popular vote in Indiana.
Overview
United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2008[1]
This district includes a small strip of northwest Indiana and had been represented by DemocratPete Visclosky since January 1985. The district has been one of the most Democratic in Indiana. John Kerry defeated George W. Bush in this district 55% to 44% in 2004.
This district is located in the northeast corner of Indiana and has a large population center in Fort Wayne. RepublicanMark Souder represented the district since January 1995 and was challenged by Mike Montagano in 2008. George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in this district 68% to 31%.
This district is located in west-central Indiana. Located within the district is the city of West Lafayette, Lafayette, Bedford, Monticello, Brownsburg, Plainfield, Zionsville, Lebanon, Frankfort, Greenwood and parts of Indianapolis and many smaller suburban towns. It had been represented by RepublicanSteve Buyer since January 1993.
This district located mostly north of Indianapolis is one of the most reliably Republican in America, having voted 71%-28% for George W. Bush in 2004. It was represented by RepublicanDan Burton.
Carson won the primary election with 46%, while Woody Myers received 24%, David Orentlicher received 21%, and Carolene Mays received 8%.[14] Carson and his Republican challenger in the special election, Jon Elrod, were set to face off in the general election but Elrod dropped out.[15] Gabrielle Campo was selected by a party caucus to face the incumbent, Carson.[16] John Kerry defeated George W. Bush in this district 58% to 41% in 2004.
This district has been nicknamed the "Bloody Eighth" because of a series of hard-fought tight campaigns and political reversals.[19] It ousted six incumbents from 1966 to 1982. The election in 1984 was so close that it was decided in Congress. In 2000, a New York Times reporter said of the district: "With a populist streak and a conservative bent, this district does not cotton to country-club Republicans or to social-engineering liberals," and also said "More than 95 percent white and about 41 percent rural, the region shares much of the flavor of the Bible Belt."[20]Evansville and Terre Haute are located within its limits and was represented by DemocratBrad Ellsworth.
This district is located in southeast Indiana. This swing district has been recently fought out by DemocratBaron Hill and RepublicanMike Sodrel. Hill beat Sodrel in 2002, Sodrel beat Hill in 2004, and Hill beat Sodrel in 2006 to become the 9th's representative. Hill spent the most on his campaign of those in Indiana, spending $2.2 million.[21] The largest city located within the district is Bloomington followed by Columbus, New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Clarksville which all have Democratic Mayors or Council Presidents.
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