2016 United States Senate election in Indiana

See also: 2016 United States Senate elections

2016 United States Senate election in Indiana

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Nominee Todd Young Evan Bayh Lucy Brenton Party Republican Democratic Libertarian Popular vote 1,423,991 1,158,974 149,481 Percentage 52.11% 42.41% 5.47%

County results Precinct results Young:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Bayh:     40–50%     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%     80–90%     >90% Tie:     40–50%     50%      No data

U.S. senator before election Dan Coats Republican Elected U.S. Senator Todd Young Republican

The 2016 United States Senate election in Indiana was held on November 8, 2016, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Indiana. The election was held alongside the presidential election and 2016 Indiana elections.

Republican incumbent Dan Coats, who served in the Senate since 2011 and previously from 1989 to 1999, ultimately chose to not seek reelection. ^[1] U.S. Representative Todd Young won the May 3 Republican primary to succeed him, with former U.S. Representative Baron Hill winning the Democratic nomination. However, Hill withdrew from the race on July 11, with former senator Evan Bayh entering the race to regain the seat, which he held from 1999 to 2011.

The Indiana Democratic Party formally chose Bayh as Hill's replacement on July 22. Following his entry, Bayh was initially seen as the frontrunner in the race. However, during the campaign, he faced heavy criticism over his post-Senate career as a lobbyist, as well as questions about his residency in the state. Young ultimately won by a comfortable margin, defeating Bayh in the general election by 10 points. ^[2]

Background

Republican Senator Dan Coats, who had served in the Senate since 2011, and previously from 1989 to 1999, stated that he planned to run for re-election, ^{[3] [4]} but in March 2014 his chief of staff said that Coats "has decided not to decide whether to run again until after the [2014] midterm elections". ^[5]

On March 24, 2015, Coats announced that he would not run for re-election, citing that he would be of advanced age (just under 80 years old) by the end of the 2017–2023 term, should he complete it. ^[1]

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Marlin Stutzman, U.S. Representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2010 ^{[1] [6] [7]}
• Todd Young, U.S. Representative

Withdrawn

• Kevin Grant, financial consultant and candidate for IN-04 in 2014 (running for IN-04) ^{[8] [9]}
• Eric Holcomb, Senator Coats' chief of staff and former chairman of the Indiana Republican Party ^{[1] [6] [10] [11]} (appointed and ran for Lieutenant Governor before replacing Mike Pence as the nominee for Governor)

Declined

• Greg Ballard, former mayor of Indianapolis ^{[1] [6]}
• Jim Banks, state senator (running for IN-03) ^{[5] [12]}
• Brian Bosma, Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives ^[13]
• Susan Brooks, U.S. Representative and former United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana (running for re-election) ^{[1] [6] [14]}
• Larry Bucshon, U.S. Representative (running for re-election) ^{[13] [15]}
• Dan Coats, incumbent U.S. Senator ^{[3] [5] [16]}
• Mitch Daniels, president of Purdue University and former governor of Indiana ^[17]
• Mike Delph, state senator ^{[5] [18] [19]}
• Richard Lugar, former U.S. Senator ^[20]
• Jim Merritt, state senator ^{[18] [21]}
• Luke Messer, U.S. Representative (running for re-election) ^{[1] [6]}
• Mike Pence, Governor of Indiana and former U.S. Representative (running for Vice President of the United States) ^[22]
• Todd Rokita, U.S. Representative and former secretary of state of Indiana (running for re-election) ^[23]
• Jackie Walorski, U.S. Representative (running for re-election) ^{[1] [24]}
• Greg Zoeller, Indiana Attorney General (running for IN-09) ^{[13] [25]}

Endorsements

Marlin Stutzman

• Citizens United ^[26]
• Club for Growth ^[26]
• FreedomWorks ^[27]
• Senate Conservatives Fund ^[26]

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Todd Young	Marlin Stutzman	Undecided
NBC/WSJ/Marist	April 26–28, 2016	645	± 3.9%	56%	24%	20%
IPFW/Downs Center	April 13–27, 2016	400	± 4.9%	42%	34%	24%
WTHR/Howey	April 18–21, 2016	507	± 4.0%	43%	31%	26%

Results

Results by county:

  Young—80–90%

  Young—70–80%

  Young—60–70%

  Young—50–60%

  Stutzman—50–60%

  Stutzman—60–70%

  Stutzman—70–80%

Republican primary results ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Todd Young	661,136	67.0%
	Republican	Marlin Stutzman	324,429	33.0%
Total votes			985,565	100.0%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Baron Hill, former U.S. Representative and nominee for U.S. Senate in 1990 (withdrew after winning primary)

Withdrawn

• John Dickerson, former nonprofit organization director ^{[29] [30]}

Declined

• Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend ^[31]
• André Carson, U.S. Representative (running for re-election) ^[32]
• Brad Ellsworth, former U.S. Representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2010 ^[33]
• Christina Hale, state representative (running for lieutenant governor) ^[34]
• John Gregg, former Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives and nominee for governor in 2012 (running for governor) ^[35]
• Thomas McDermott Jr., Mayor of Hammond ^{[1] [36] [37]}
• Bart Peterson, former mayor of Indianapolis ^[38]
• Glenda Ritz, Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction (running for re-election) ^[39]
• Jonathan Weinzapfel, former mayor of Evansville and nominee for Indiana's 8th congressional district in 1996 ^[33]

Endorsements

Baron Hill

Individuals

• Evan Bayh, former U.S. Senator for this seat and former governor of Indiana, replacement nominee

Organizations

• Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee ^[40]

Results

Democratic primary results ^[28]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Baron Hill	516,183	100.00%
Total votes			516,183	100.00%

Democratic State Central Committee selection

On July 11, 2016, CNN's Tom LoBianco announced that Bayh would enter the race to regain his old Senate seat and Hill would drop out and withdraw his name from the November ballot. ^[41] Hill soon after released a statement formally dropping out of the race saying he did not "...want to stand in the way of Democrats winning Indiana and the U.S. Senate. That would not be fair to my party or my state. And, the stakes are far too high in this election not to put my country above my own political ambitions," ^[42] without explicitly endorsing Bayh. ^[42] The first candidate to declare was Bob Kern, a frequent candidate for Congress in various districts around the state. ^[43] Bayh officially declared for the race July 13. ^[44] The Indiana Democratic Party's State Central Committee chose Bayh as Hill's replacement, for the general election. ^[42]

Candidates

• Evan Bayh , former U.S. Senator and Governor of Indiana ^{[41] [44]}
• Bob Kern, candidate for IN-7 in 2012, IN-2 in 2014, and IN-9 2016 ^[43]

General election

Candidates

• Evan Bayh (D), former U.S. Senator and Governor of Indiana
• Todd Young (R), U.S. Representative
• Lucy Brenton (L)

Debates

Dates	Location	Young	Bayh	Brenton	Link
October 18, 2016	Indianapolis, Indiana	Participant	Participant	Participant	Full debate - C-SPAN

Endorsements

Evan Bayh

U.S. Cabinet members and Cabinet-level officials

• Hillary Clinton, 67th United States Secretary of State, former U.S. senator from New York, 2008 presidential candidate and 2016 presidential nominee ^[45]

Mayors

• Tom Henry, Fort Wayne, Indiana ^[46]

Organizations

• Daily News Bin ^[47]

Labor unions

• UAW - United Automobile Workers ^[48]

Newspapers

• The Journal Gazette ^[49]
• South Bend Tribune ^[50]

Todd Young

Presidents of the United States

• George W. Bush, 43rd President of the United States ^[51]

U.S. Senators

• Tom Cotton, Arkansas ^[52]
• Ted Cruz, Texas and 2016 presidential candidate ^[53]

U.S. Representatives

• Paul Ryan, Wisconsin, 54th Speaker of the House and 2012 vice presidential nominee ^[54]

Former state party chairs

• Jim Kittle ^[55]
• Al Hubbard ^[55]

Individuals

• Carly Fiorina, former CEO of Hewlett-Packard, 2010 nominee for Senate in California and 2016 presidential candidate ^[56]

Organizations

• Indiana Right to Life ^[57]
• National Federation of Independent Business ^[57]
• National Rifle Association - Political Victory Fund ^{[58] [59]}
• United States Chamber of Commerce ^[60]
• American Conservative Union ^[61]

Newspapers

• The Indianapolis Star ^[62]
• The Times of Northwest Indiana ^[57]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
The Cook Political Report [63]	Tossup	November 2, 2016
Sabato's Crystal Ball [64]	Lean R	November 7, 2016
Rothenberg Political Report [65]	Tossup	November 3, 2016
Daily Kos [66]	Tossup	November 8, 2016
Real Clear Politics [67]	Tossup	November 7, 2016

Polling

Graphical summary

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Todd Young (R)	Evan Bayh (D)	Lucy Brenton (L)	Undecided
SurveyMonkey	November 1–7, 2016	1,700	± 4.6%	53%	42%	—	5%
SurveyMonkey	Oct 31–Nov 6, 2016	1,383	± 4.6%	52%	43%	—	5%
WTHR/Howey	November 1–3, 2016	600	± 4.0%	46%	41%	6%	7%
SurveyMonkey	Oct 28–Nov 3, 2016	923	± 4.6%	52%	43%	—	5%
SurveyMonkey	Oct 27–Nov 2, 2016	790	± 4.6%	51%	44%	—	5%
Gravis Marketing	Oct 30–Nov 1, 2016	399	± 4.9%	37%	40%	7%	16%
SurveyMonkey	Oct 26–Nov 1, 2016	638	± 4.6%	51%	46%	—	3%
SurveyMonkey	October 25–31, 2016	674	± 4.6%	50%	46%	—	4%
Monmouth University	October 27–30, 2016	402	± 4.9%	45%	45%	4%	5%
Gravis Marketing	October 22–24, 2016	596	± 2.3%	37%	39%	7%	17%
WISH/Ball State Hoosier Survey	October 10–16, 2016	544	± 3.9%	43%	49%	—	6%
Monmouth University	October 11–13, 2016	402	± 4.9%	42%	48%	6%	4%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Young)	October 9–11, 2016	609	± 4.0%	40%	39%	8%	13%
The Times-Picayune/Lucid	October 7–10, 2016	1,123	± 3.0%	43%	46%	—	11%
WTHR/Howey	October 3–5, 2016	600	± 4.0%	41%	42%	8%	9%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Young)	October 3, 2016 [68]	–	–	38%	42%	7%	13%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Young)	September 21, 2016 [68]	–	–	39%	44%	9%	8%
WTHR/Howey Archived October 16, 2016, at the Wayback Machine	September 6–8, 2016	600	± 4.0%	40%	44%	5%	11%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Young)	September 1, 2016 [68]	–	–	35%	44%	6%	15%
Garin-Hart-Yang (D-Bayh)	August 15–18, 2016	801	± 3.5%	39%	55%	—	6%
Monmouth University	August 13–16, 2016	403	± 4.9%	41%	48%	4%	7%
Global Strategy Group (D-SMP)	August 10–14, 2016	801	± 3.5%	36%	54%	—	10%
Public Opinion Strategies (R-Young)	August 8, 2016 [68]	–	–	35%	48%	7%	10%
Expedition Strategies (R-Gregg)	August 1–3, 2016	600	± 4.0%	32%	58%	—	9%
Garin-Hart-Yang (D-DSCC)	July 12–14, 2016	602	± 4.1%	33%	54%	—	13%

Hypothetical polling

with Baron Hill

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Todd Young (R)	Baron Hill (D)	Undecided
Bellwether Research	May 11–15, 2016	600	± 4.0%	36%	22%	30%
WTHR/Howey	April 18–21, 2016	500	± 4.3%	48%	30%	22%

with Marlin Stutzman

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Marlin Stutzman (R)	Baron Hill (D)	Undecided
WTHR/Howey	April 18–21, 2016	500	± 4.0%	39%	36%	25%

Results

United States Senate election in Indiana, 2016 ^[69]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Todd Young	1,423,991	52.11%	-2.47%
	Democratic	Evan Bayh	1,158,947	42.41%	+2.41%
	Libertarian	Lucy Brenton	149,481	5.47%	+0.06%
	Independent	James L. Johnson, Jr. (write-in)	127	0.01%	N/A
Total votes			2,732,546	100.00%	N/A
	Republican hold

Counties that flipped from Republican to Democratic

• Porter (Largest city: Portage)
• St. Joseph (Largest city: South Bend)

Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican

• Vermillion (largest city: Clinton)
• Sullivan (Largest city: Sullivan)

References

1. Joseph, Cameron (March 24, 2015). "Coats retirement in Indiana shakes up 2016 battle for Senate". The Hill . Retrieved March 24, 2015.
2. Maureen Groppe (July 12, 2016). "Few former senators have done what Bayh might do". IndyStar.
3. Bradner, Eric (December 8, 2012). "Coats preparing for re-election in 2016 » Evansville Courier & Press". Courierpress.com. Archived from the original on September 21, 2013. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
4. Francisco, Brian (November 2, 2011). "Coats gets head start on 2016". Journal Gazette. Retrieved September 21, 2013.
5. "Tully: Dan Coats weighing another term in Senate". IndyStar.com. March 4, 2014. Retrieved October 12, 2014.
6. Brian Howey (January 30, 2015). "If Sen. Coates doesn't run, who does?". KokomoPerspective.com. Retrieved February 3, 2015.
7. Cahn, Emily (May 9, 2015). "Marlin Stutzman Leaving House to Run for Senate". Roll Call. Archived from the original on May 13, 2015. Retrieved May 11, 2015.
8. Francisco, Brian (August 18, 2015). "Candidate fields growing quietly". Journal Gazette. Retrieved August 18, 2015.
9. "May 3, 2016 Primary Election Candidates" (PDF). Indiana Secretary of State Election Division. Retrieved February 4, 2016.
10. Joseph, Cameron (March 26, 2015). "Chief of staff launches Senate bid for Coats's seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
11. "Eric Holcomb drops out of Indiana senate race". WRTV . February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
12. Francisco, Brian (May 11, 2015). "Banks set for Congress run". The Journal Gazette . Retrieved May 11, 2015.
13. Howey, Brian A.; Schoeff, Mark Jr. (March 24, 2015). "Coats decision sets off 2016 Senate mad scramble". Howey Politics. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
14. de la Bastide, Ken (April 20, 2015). "Brooks won't run for U.S. Senate". The Herald Bulletin . Retrieved April 20, 2015.
15. Sullivan, Sean (March 24, 2015). "Cross Rep. Larry Bucshon's name off the list of possible GOP candidates for the Indiana Senate race. He tells me he is not interested". Twitter. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
16. Hakim-Shabazz, Abdul (March 24, 2015). "Coats Not Running For Re-Election". Indy Politics. Archived from the original on March 26, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
17. "TBangert: Governor run for Purdue's Mitch Daniels? 'Nope'". The Indianapolis Star . April 21, 2015.
18. Howey, Brian (May 26, 2015). "A fascinating U.S. Senate race is setting up". News and Tribune . Retrieved June 4, 2015.
19. Carden, Dan (September 15, 2015). "UPDATE: Delph opts out of U.S. Senate race". The Times of Northwest Indiana . Retrieved September 15, 2015.
20. Raju, Manu (March 25, 2015). "Dick Lugar won't be making a comeback, declines to run for Coats' seat in #INSEN, per @kyledcheney". Twitter. Retrieved March 25, 2015.
21. Helms, Aubrey (August 4, 2015). "Young locking in fundraising advantage for U.S. Senate race". The Statehouse File. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
22. Eric Bradner; Dana Bash; MJ Lee (July 15, 2016). "Donald Trump selects Mike Pence as VP". CNN.
23. Carden, Dan (June 10, 2015). "Rokita opts out of U.S. Senate race". The Times of Northwest Indiana . Retrieved June 10, 2015.
24. Vandenack, Tim (April 15, 2015). "U.S. Rep. Walorski to seek third term in House, won't run for Senate after all". The Elkhart Truth . Archived from the original on April 15, 2015. Retrieved April 15, 2015.
25. Marturello, Mike (April 9, 2015). "Zoeller quiets talk of Senate run to replace Coats". News and Tribune . Retrieved April 9, 2015.
26. Francisco, Brian (January 17, 2016). "GOP Senate hopefuls aim right". The Journal Gazette . Retrieved February 6, 2016.
27. Francisco, Brian (March 22, 2016). "FreedomWorks endorses Stutzman in Senate race". The Journal Gazette . Retrieved April 3, 2016.
28. "Indiana Primary Election, May 3, 2016". Indiana Secretary of State. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
29. Lewis, Olivia (August 15, 2015). "Dickerson kicks off campaign for U.S. Senate seat". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved August 17, 2015.
30. "John Dickerson Drops Out of Race For U.S. Senate". wfyi Indianapolis. January 21, 2016. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
31. Howey, Brian A.; Butler, Matthew (June 25, 2015). "Gov. Pence prepares to pick a fight" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. 20 (39). Retrieved September 17, 2019.
32. Cahn, Emily; Levinson, Alexis (March 24, 2015). "Coats Retirement Sparks Hoosier State Free-for-All". Roll Call . Archived from the original on March 28, 2015. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
33. Livingston, Abby (June 19, 2013). "Ambitious Hoosiers Wait for Future Statewide Races Farm Team". Roll Call. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
34. Smith, Brandon (May 25, 2016). "John Gregg Announces Rep. Christina Hale As Running Mate". WFIU. Archived from the original on August 7, 2016. Retrieved July 13, 2016.
35. Bruggeman, Karyn (March 8, 2015). "Mike Pence and Indiana's Deep Freeze". National Journal . Retrieved March 13, 2015.
36. Howey, Brian A. (March 24, 2015). "Sen. Coats will not seek reelection in 2016; won't endorse". Howey Politics. Retrieved March 24, 2015.
37. Howey, Brian (September 10, 2015). "U.S. Senate race: McDermott considers" (PDF). Howey Politics. Retrieved September 15, 2015.
38. Joseph, Cameron (March 24, 2015). "GOP braces for free-for-all in Indiana". The Hill . Retrieved March 24, 2015.
39. Turner, Kris (June 4, 2015). "Glenda Ritz calls education 'catalyst for improvement' in run for governor". The Indianapolis Star . Retrieved June 4, 2015.
40. Tester, Jon (March 8, 2016). "DSCC Endorses Baron Hill in Indiana Senate Race". Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee . Archived from the original on March 31, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
41. Tom LoBianco (July 11, 2016). "First on CNN: Evan Bayh mounting Senate return". CNN.
42. "Baron Hill withdraws from U.S. Senate race; Evan Bayh to enter race". WTHR. July 11, 2016. Archived from the original on July 12, 2016. Retrieved July 11, 2016.
43. "Bob Kern Senate filing" (PDF). Indiana Secretary of State. July 12, 2016. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 20, 2016. Retrieved July 19, 2016.
44. Tom LoBianco (July 13, 2016). "Bayh announces Senate bid, puts Indiana seat in play". CNN. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
45. Rucker, Philip (October 23, 2016). "Clinton infuses cash into Senate, gubernatorial races, including Indiana and Missouri". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved November 3, 2016.
46. Roberts, Kelly (October 26, 2016). "Mayor Tom Henry campaigns for Evan Bayh". WANE-TV . Retrieved November 3, 2016.
47. "Daily News Bin endorses Democrat Evan Bayh in 2016 Senate race in Indiana". Daily News Bin. July 12, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
48. Shella, Jim (September 8, 2016). "UAW endorses Bayh, attacks Young". WISH-TV . Retrieved November 3, 2016.
49. "Bayh best for Indiana, Senate". The Journal Gazette . October 23, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
50. "Endorsements: A tough choice for U.S. Senate but Bayh is sensible pick for Indiana". South Bend Tribune . October 30, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
51. "Bush campaigns for Todd Young in Indy, Elkhart".
52. "Tom Cotton campaigns with Todd Young". tomcotton.com. October 27, 2016. Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
53. Roberts, Kelly (November 5, 2016). "Senator Ted Cruz makes final push for Todd Young". WANE-TV . Retrieved October 31, 2018.
54. Republican Party of Indiana (November 1, 2016). "I work with @ToddYoung closely- he's one of the most hardworking men in Congress. He's a servant leader.- @PRyan". Twitter . Retrieved November 2, 2016.
55. "Hubbard, Kittle Back Rep. Young to Get in Senate Race". June 2015.
56. Fiorina, Carly (October 27, 2016). "Why Indiana needs a conservative fighter like @ToddYoungIN in the U.S. Senate: facebook.com/CarlyFiorina/p..." Twitter . Retrieved October 29, 2016.
57. "Endorsements". toddyoung.org.
58. "NRA-PVF - Grades - Indiana". NRAPVF. Archived from the original on October 3, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2023.
59. DeFreeuw, Eric (September 21, 2016). "NRA ad takes aim at Bayh's gun control voting record". WPTA . Archived from the original on November 4, 2016. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
60. Shella, Jim (March 30, 2016). "Todd Young wins business endorsements". WISH-TV . Archived from the original on April 5, 2016. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
61. "ACU Endorses Todd Young". American Conservative Union. Archived from the original on July 30, 2018. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
62. "Editorial: Todd Young is best choice for Senate". The Indianapolis Star . October 22, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2016.
63. "2016 Senate Race Ratings for November 2, 2016". The Cook Political Report. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
64. "2016 Senate". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 19, 2016.
65. "2016 Senate Ratings". Senate Ratings. The Rothenberg Political Report. Retrieved November 3, 2016.
66. "Daily Kos Election 2016 forecast: The final version". Daily Kos. Retrieved March 27, 2021.
67. "Battle for the Senate 2016". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved October 28, 2016.
68. Date of polling memo, not field dates, which remain unreleased
69. "Indiana General Election, November 8, 2016". Indiana Secretary of State. Retrieved December 19, 2016.

External links

Official campaign websites

• Todd Young (R) for Senate
• Evan Bayh (D) for Senate
• Lucy Brenton (L) for Senate