Tuesday night’s Primary results will certainly shake things up in the Indiana General Assembly. I’m providing a brief rundown on the outcome of various state legislative primary races, particularly those our PAC, Indiana Business for Responsive Government (IBRG), was engaged in. This primary was the biggest in terms of number of contested primaries and tough races we’ve ever seen, with nearly two dozen incumbents facing primary challengers and 15 open seat races.

Incumbents facing primary challengers

  • 20 of 23 incumbent legislators who faced primary challenges won their races.
  • Winners:  Jake Teshka (R), Mike Aylesworth (R), Jim Pressel (R), Tim Wesco (R), Ann Vermillion (R), J.D. Prescott (R), Brad Barrett (R), Brian Lauer (R), Peggy Mayfield (R), Chris May (R), Ed Clere (R), Tim O’Brien (R), Matt Lehman (R), Martin Carbaugh (R), Dave Heine (R), Chris Jeter (R), Mike Speedy (R), Bob Behning (R), Rodney Pol (D), Mike Gaskill (R)
  • Losers:  John Young (R), Dan Leonard (R), John Jacob (R)

Incumbents running against each other post-redistricting new districts

  • Rep. Craig Snow (R) defeated Rep. Craig Nisly (R)      (IBRG backed Snow)
  • Rep. Bruce Borders (R) defeated Rep. Jeff Ellington (R)     (IBRG endorsed neither candidate)
  • Sen. Gary Byrne (R) defeated Sen. Kevin Boehnlein (R)     (IBRG backed Boehnlein)

Open seat races (no incumbent running)

  • Winners:  Kendell Culp (R-House 16), Becky Cash (R-House 25), Fred Glynn (R-House 32), Mark Genda (R-House 41), Cory Criswell (R-House 54), Lindsey Patterson (R-House 55), Craig Haggard (R-House 57), Dave Hall (R-House 62), Penny Githens (D-House 62), Jenny Meltzer (R-House 73), Kyle Miller (D-House 82), Michael Griffin (D-Senate 1), Tyler Johnson (R-Senate 14), Spencer Deery (R-Senate 23), Scott Alexander (R-Senate 26), Andrea Hunley (D-Senate 46)

IBRG’s record for endorsed candidates in the 2022 primaries:

  •  Won 14 of 15 incumbent defense races
  •  Won 1 of 1 in challengers to incumbent legislators
  •  Won 1 of 2 in contested races between incumbent legislators
  •  Won 5 of 9 contested open seat races

Jeff Brantley is the Indiana Chamber’s senior vice president of political affairs. He has been with the Chamber since 2010 and also worked for the Chamber 1995-2000.