Indiana took 3 congressional seats yesterday.
Indiana voters sent a resounding no-confidence vote to Republicans in Washington Tuesday, ousting congressional incumbents in the 2nd, 8th and 9th Districts and giving Democrats three of the 15 seats they needed to take control of the U.S. House.
But Hoosiers returned Richard Lugar to the U.S. Senate for the sixth time. He had no Democratic opposition.
“All across our state, Hoosiers have voted for change,” said Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, who was not up for re-election. “We voted for change not just to change the person going to Washington, but to change the way Washington works.”
The turnover was unusual for Indiana, where congressional incumbents are generally safe. Since 1994, only three incumbents had lost their seats.
Brian Vargus, a political science professor at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis [IUPUI], attributed the GOP losses this year to a combination of an anti-incumbency mood, a general dissatisfaction with Republicans and the war in Iraq.
“The war pervaded everything,” Vargus said. “It was just a nasty, sort of irritating itch. … You remember the famous saying that all politics is local? In this case, there was enough of a natural unease about the direction of the country and Congress in general.”
Indiana has gained a reputation as a no-brainer Republican stronghold, a state not worth watching we’re so predictable. But as I and other Indiana bloggers have said in the past, Hoosiers may be conservative but do not sit well with party pandering and widespread corruption. Don’t try to dupe a country boy.
Also, former Indiana Governor and Indiana Senator Evan Bayh is surrounded by 2008 presidential buzz. Here he is on the issues.
UPDATE: The most clear reporting I’ve found so far on yesterday’s election is from the BBC, of all places. Some highlights:
- First female House speaker: Nancy Pelosi
- First Muslim congressman: Keith Ellison
- First socialist senator: Bernie Sanders
- First black northern governor: Deval Patrick in Massachusetts
- Longest serving Senate member: Democrat Robert Byrd, 88, of West Virginia
We hoosiers rocked yesterday! :)
I also support Bayh, I like the guy.
And I got to vote Count Chocola out of office yesterday… oh what a good day. :)
I wonder what significant changes this will bring, if any.
I voted rather haphazardly, voting for Libertarians when given the “choice” and Dems when they were they only other “option”, and when it was just a Repub I didn’t vote. Of course, our district used Diebold machines, and what with their proprietary software, I had zero confidence. I will say I’m glad Basham is out.
Bayh’s a little weak in some areas of concern to me, but it would certainly be interesting if he chose to run.
(On a side note, Anna’s working with Vargus down at IUPUI.)
Shit, Annie, we must have voted the same ticket.
Byrd isn’t the longest serving Senator. Thurmond served a little more than Byrd has. Byrd will only overtake Thurmond if he serves through 2007, i.e. if he doesn’t die in the next year.
I don’t want to even think anyone’s talking about a Presidential run for Bayh. He’s a pro-war, anti-civil liberties conservative. Republicans in New York are more liberal than he is.
I think you and Annie and I all voted the same ticket, Lauren.
Maybe if there are enough of us, we can add something to the “straight ticket” options. Maybe call it the “Backlash ticket” or something.