After a tsunami of over $13 million of out-of-state funded negative ads against the “Redistricting Eight” senators targeted by President Trump allied groups, six of the eight senators were defeated. In all, 32 incumbents (half of whom are committee chairs) faced primary challenges. Only the six targeted over redistricting were defeated.
The Indiana Chamber’s non-partisan IBRG PAC political program mounted its biggest election effort ever, supporting pro-business candidates in more than a dozen targeted races. Of the “Redistricting Eight,” only four senators had pro-business voting records that earned IBRG support. Two of those four – Sen. Spencer Deery (R-West Lafayette) and Sen. Greg Goode (R-Terre Haute) – won their primaries and were the only members of the targeted group to survive. In open seat contests, six of eight IBRG-backed candidates prevailed, while all 17 supported incumbents won re-election.
The general election is already shaping up to be complicated and competitive, with contested statewide races, internal divisions within the GOP and a difficult midterm environment. A host of tough races – challenged incumbents, open seat and challenger races – are on the battlefield.
Elections matter. Indiana’s future depends on thoughtful, policy-focused, pro-business candidates winning in November. That’s why, with the support of employers from across Indiana, the Chamber’s non-partisan political program will be battling to elect pro-business champions.
