Indiana Dems break GOP supermajority in House, notch Senate wins

Indiana Democrats on Tuesday shattered the GOP’s 14-year supermajority in the state’s House of Representatives.

More than a dozen additional Republican incumbents appeared in danger of losing their seats as vote-counting continued late Tuesday. This includes House Speaker Todd Huston, who was trailing his opponent Democrat Lauren Cole with 99% reporting. 

Incumbent Democrats in uncalled races, meanwhile, had comfortable leads.

Indiana House supermajority ends

Democrats scored big wins in the rapidly purpling suburbs north of Indianapolis, capitalizing on widespread discontent to surpass the four-seat margin required to break the two-thirds GOP hold on the chamber and wield greater influence there.

Democratic challenger Tiffany Stoner thrashed Rep. Becky Cash, the Republican from Zionsville she’d lost to by just 64 votes two years ago. The margin was 59% to 41% as of 9:27 p.m., more than an hour after the AP’s 8:10 p.m. race call. House District 25 covers parts of Boone and Hendricks counties.

Next door, Democratic challenger Racheal Bleicher bested former Indianapolis Colts punter and Rep. Hunter Smith of Zionsville. She had 53% of the vote to the first-term representative’s 47%, with 99% of ballots counted shortly after the AP’s 9:33 p.m. race call. House District 24 includes parts of Carmel, Sheridan, Westfield and Zionsville.

In Madison County, located northeast of Indianapolis, Democrat Kimberly Townsend garnered nearly 55% of the vote to the 45% posted by GOP Rep. Kyle Pierce of Anderson as of 11:02, when the race was called. The incumbent had represented House District 36 since 2022.

Directly west of Indianapolis, in Hendricks County, Democrat William Colteryahn easily defeated longtime Republican Rep. Greg Steuerwald, who has served in the House since 2007. Colteryahn had earned nearly 55% of the vote to Steuerwald’s 45% shortly after the race was called at 10:26 p.m.

Further south, Democrat Amy Huffman Oliver crushed Rep. Dave Hall, a Republican from Norman. She’d garnered 59% of the vote to his 41% as of 10:14 p.m., when the race was called. District 62 covers all of Brown County, plus bits of Monroe and Jackson counties.

And up in northeast Indiana, GOP Rep. Bob Morris of Fort Wayne narrowly fell to Democrat Misti Meehan, losing 49% to 51%, according to early, unofficial Allen County election results. House District 84 is entirely contained within the county.

A long list of GOP incumbents were in races too close to call early Wednesday — or were significantly down with nearly all votes counted in uncalled races:

• Rep. Bob Behning
• Rep. Dale DeVon
• House Speaker Todd Huston
• Rep. Andrew Ireland
• Rep. Chris Jeter
• Rep. Ryan Lauer
• Rep. Danny Lopez
• Rep. Julie McGuire
• Rep. Tim O’Brien
• Rep. Julie Olthoff
• Rep. Ed Soliday
• Rep. Jake Teshka

Also down was Darrell Neeley, a newcomer Republican running to succeed GOP Rep. Ed Clere, who chose not to run for reelection.

Senate losses stack up

Democrats also made headway against the supermajority Republicans have held over the Senate since the 2010 election, gaining at least four seats.

Besieged by reports of his alleged involvement in a string of shoplifting incidents, longtime Republican Sen. Ron Alting of Lafayette lost to Democrat Natasha Baker in a 41% to nearly 59% loss. Senate District 22 includes all of Carroll County and portions of Tippecanoe County.

Alting, 70, cited “concerning changes in my judgment” in his decision this month to step back from campaigning, and, if reelected, to resign from office. He is the Indiana Senate’s most senior member, having first been elected to the chamber in 1998.

A Democratic challenger, Julie McGill, also narrowly ousted veteran Sen. Liz Brown of Fort Wayne. McGill had nearly 52% of the vote to Brown’s 48%, according to final but unofficial Allen County election results. Senate District 15 is entirely contained within the county.

Democrats will also expand their reach in two open seats formerly held by GOP incumbents who voted down an early, partisan congressional redraw:

• In Lake County’s Senate District 1, Democrat Scott Houldieson trounced Republican newcomer Trevor De Vries — who had primaried GOP Sen. Dan Dernulc. Houldieson earned a whopping 57% of the vote as of midnight Tuesday, as opposed to De Vries’ 43%.
• Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal, a Democrat, smothered school board member Juanita Albright with nearly 58% of the vote. Albright had 42% as of 1 a.m. Wednesday. Senate District 31 includes parts of Hamilton and Marion counties.

Another open seat in Senate District 11 was too close to call early Wednesday, but leaning toward another Democratic pickup. 

And Democrats will hang onto a seat vacated by former Sen. J.D. Ford Indianapolis, who won election to the Fifth Congressional District. Democrat Kristina Moorhead overwhelmed former lawmaker John Ruckelshaus in a landslide of almost 62% of the vote — compared to the Republican’s 38%, as of 1 a.m. Wednesday.