Indiana voters send mixed signals in heated campaign season
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The volatile 2016 campaign season turns toward the November general election with mixed signals from Indiana voters, who showed some rebellious spirit in Tuesday's primary by giving victories to outsiders Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders in the presidential races. But they didn't fully mutiny against establishment candidates, as evidenced by the rejection of a tea party-backed congressman for the GOP Senate nomination.
A wealthy political newcomer won a contentious GOP primary for one open congressional seat, while a Republican state senator defeated several rivals for the other. And two top power brokers in the General Assembly easily defeated challengers.
With that as a backdrop, the fight for control of the governor's office already has taken to the television airwaves. Here are some things to know:
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PENCE-GREGG, ROUND 2
It's the unofficial beginning of the gubernatorial race since neither Republican Gov. Mike Pence nor Democrat John Gregg faced primary foes. Pence narrowly defeated Gregg, a former Indiana House speaker, in 2012.
Gregg started his TV ads Thursday, including one in which he takes a dig at Pence over the state's economy: "Politicians say there are more jobs. Your pocketbook tells you the truth. Wages aren't keeping up."
Pence, meanwhile, launched a positive ad highlighting that the state's unemployment rate has sharply dropped during his time in office - from 8.4 percent in January 2013 to 5 percent in March.
A major campaign issue is expected to be Pence's handling of the state's religious objections law, which drew widespread uproar last year from opponents who argued it would sanction discrimination against gay people.
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SENATE REMATCH, OF SORTS
GOP U.S. Rep. Todd Young has stuck to the script since launching his campaign, touting his military service and record against Democratic rival Baron Hill, whom he ousted from Congress during 2010's tea party wave.
"Did I mention I'm a United States Marine who's beaten Baron Hill before and can beat him again?" Young said in April after debating U.S. Rep. Marlin Stutzman, whom he beat in the primary by more than a 2-to-1 margin.
Now, Young gets his shot to prove it in a race that could have national implications as Democrats seek to retake control of the U.S. Senate.
Indiana has voted reliably Republican in recent years and the race is Young's to lose, but Hill has vowed a spirited campaign and touts what he calls a bipartisan centrist record.
But some Republican strategists worry Trump's spot atop the ticket could wreak havoc for down-ballot races.
"If Indiana were to elect a Democrat to the Senate, it would be somebody like Baron Hill," said Marjorie Hershey, a political science professor at Indiana University.
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CONGRESS CALLING
Political newcomer Trey Hollingsworth will be trying to keep southern Indiana's 9th Congressional District in Republican control after winning the GOP primary eight months after moving from Tennessee. The 32-year-old faced criticism that he was trying to buy the seat as he and his father spent at least $1.7 million of their own money on a TV commercial-heavy campaign that touted him as an outsider with business experience.
Hollingsworth faces Democrat Shelli Yoder of Bloomington, a Monroe County Council member who ran a competitive campaign against Young in 2012 and has had modest fundraising success.
No drama is expected for the 3rd District seat in northeastern Indiana, which Stutzman gave up for his Senate bid. Republican state Sen. Jim Banks of Columbia City won a six-candidate primary in the heavily GOP district.
For northern Indiana's 2nd District, Republican Rep. Jackie Walorski is the only incumbent U.S. House member who faces a potentially serious challenger in Democrat Lynn Coleman, a retired South Bend police officer.
The other four Republican and two Democratic House members face foes with little money or organization.
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LEGISLATIVE SUPERMAJORITIES
Democrats will be trying to claw back into relevance in the General Assembly by breaking the two-thirds supermajorities that Republicans hold, which allows the chambers to take action without Democrats even being present.
The campaigns for president and governor could have a big impact on whether Democrats can add the five seats in the 100-member House or seven seats in the 50-member Senate they need.
Two top state Senate leaders are expected to win re-election: President Pro Tem David Long of Fort Wayne and Appropriations Chairman Luke Kenley turned aside primary challengers.