Indiana State Senate elections, 2010

Indiana State Senate elections, 2010

Majority control • Campaign contributions

Qualifications • Competitiveness analysis

State Legislative Election Results

List of candidates District 1 • District 4 • District 6 • District 11 • District 14 • District 15 • District 17 • District 19 • District 21 • District 22• District 23 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 29 • District 31 • District 38 • District 39 • District 41 • District 43 • District 45 • District 46 • District 47 • District 48 • District 49

Indiana State Senate

Elections for the office of Indiana State Senator were held in Indiana on November 2, 2010. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in these elections was February 19, 2010 for Republicans and Democrats, and was June 30 for Independents and other candidates. The primary election day was on May 4, 2010.

Elections were held in 25 of Indiana's 50 senate districts, with incumbents running in 22 of the races.

Indiana's state senators serve four-year terms and Indiana does not have term limits. The session of the Indiana State Senate begins the first Tuesday after the first Monday every January.

See also: Indiana State Senate and State legislative elections, 2010

Before the election, Republicans were one member short of a quorum, the two-thirds majority needed to conduct business in the Indiana Senate. On November 2nd, the Republicans gained 3 seats to give them a 3/4 majority in the Senate, enough to conduct business without Democrats present.

November 2 General Election Results

The following candidates won election on November 2, 2010:

1. Phil Boots
2. Allen Paul
3. Dennis Kruse (Indiana)
4. Dorothy "Sue" Landske
5. Doug Eckerty
6. Frank Mrvan (Indiana state senator)
7. Greg Walker
8. James Buck
9. James Merritt Jr.
10. Jim Banks (Indiana)
11. Jim Smith, Indiana politician
12. Jim Tomes
13. John Waterman (Indiana)
14. Johnny Nugent
15. Karen Tallian
16. Lindel Hume
17. Mike Delph
18. Pam Galloway
19. Richard Young (Indiana state senator)
20. Ron Grooms
21. Ronnie Alting
22. Thomas Wyss
23. Timothy Lanane
24. Timothy Skinner
25. Travis Holdman
26. Joseph Zakas

Majority control

See also: Partisan composition of state senates

Heading into the November 2 election, the Republican Party held the majority in the Indiana State Senate:

Indiana State Senate
Party		As of November 1, 2010	After the 2010 Election
	Democratic Party	17	14
	Republican Party	33	36
Total		50	50

Campaign contributions

This chart shows how many candidates ran for state senate in Indiana in past years and the cumulative amount of campaign contributions in state senate races, including contributions in both primary and general election contests. All figures come from Follow The Money.

Year	Number of candidates	Total contributions
2010	57	$4,046,473
2008	99	$4,518,011
2006	84	$5,289,748
2004	73	$3,820,464
2002	76	$3,243,894

In 2010, the total amount of contributions raised in state senate elections was $4,046,473. The top donors were:

Donor	Amount
Senate Majority Campaign Cmte of Indiana	$578,408
Indiana Democratic Party	$532,797
Indiana Republican Party	$305,368
Indiana State Teachers Association	$82,287
Indiana Trial Lawyers Association	$78,200
AT&T	$73,550
Hoosiers for Economic Growth	$72,500
Indiana Hospital Association	$56,750
Vision Concepts	$56,689
Indiana Motor Truck Association	$56,150

Incumbency

Unopposed incumbents

Seven incumbents (31%) faced no competition in the November 2 general election.

• 3 Democratic incumbents faced no November challenger.
• 4 GOP incumbents faced no November challenger.

Primary challenges

Three incumbents faced competition in the May 4th primary. No incumbents lost to primary challengers. The following 22 incumbents (8 Democrats, 14 Republicans) won their primaries:

• District 1: Incumbent Democrat Frank Mrvan
• District 4: Incumbent Democrat Karen Tallian
• District 6: Incumbent Republican Sue Landske
• District 11: Incumbent Republican Joe Zakas
• District 14: Incumbent Republican Dennis Kruse
• District 15: Incumbent Republican Thomas Wyss
• District 19: Incumbent Republican Travis Holdman
• District 21: Incumbent Republican James Buck
• District 22: Incumbent Republican Ronnie Alting
• District 23: Incumbent Republican Phil Boots
• District 25: Incumbent Democrat Timothy Lanane
• District 26: Incumbent Democrat Sue Errington
• District 27: Incumbent Republican Allen Paul
• District 29: Incumbent Republican Mike Delph
• District 31: Incumbent Republican James Merritt
• District 38: Incumbent Democrat Timothy Skinner
• District 39: Incumbent Republican John Waterman
• District 41: Incumbent Republican Greg Walker
• District 43: Incumbent Republican Johnny Nugent
• District 45: Incumbent Democrat James Lewis
• District 47: Incumbent Democrat Richard Young
• District 48: Incumbent Democrat Lindel Hume

Retiring incumbents

Three incumbent senators did not run for re-election, while 22 incumbents (88%) ran for re-election. Of the 3 incumbents who did not seek re-election, there were 2 Democrats and 1 Republican.

Incumbents who retired are:

• District 17: Incumbent Republican Gary Dillon
• District 46: Incumbent Democrat Connie Sipes
• District 49: Incumbent Democrat Bob Deig

Qualifications

To be eligible to serve in the Indiana State Senate, a candidate must be:

• A United States citizen at the time of election
• Have resided in the state for at least two years and in the senate district for at least one year before the election
• Be at least twenty-five (25) years old upon taking office;
• Registered to vote in the election district the person seeks to represent not later than the deadline for filing the declaration or petition of candidacy or certificate of nomination

List of candidates

Partisan dominance in state senates heading into the 2010 state legislative elections

2010 State senate elections
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Parties with candidates
Impact of term limits
Successful challengers
Defeated incumbents
State house elections
State senate elections
State legislative elections

District 1

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Frank Mrvan 7,777 a Incumbent Mrvan was first elected in 1998.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• David Spudic 3,094 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Frank Mrvan 16,472

David Spudic 10,845

District 4

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Karen Tallian 6,114 a Incumbent Tallian was first elected in 2005.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Shawn Olson 3,968 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Karen Tallian 18,888

Shawn Olson 15,857

District 6

May 4 Democratic primary:

• Jim Metro 4,385 a

May 4 GOP primary:

• Sue Landske 7,834 a Incumbent Lanske was first elected in 1984.

April 24 Libertarian convention result:

• Charles E. Barman a

November 2 General election candidates:

Jim Metro 11,533

Sue Landske 26,022

Charles E. Barman 1,425

District 11

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Catherine Fanello 2,862 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Joe Zakas 7,897 a Incumbent Zakas was first elected in 1982.

November 2 General election candidates:

Catherine Fanello 14,893

Joe Zakas 24,709

District 14

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• No Democrats filed to run for this seat.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Dennis Kruse 14,862 a Incumbent Kruse was first elected in 2004.

November 2 General election candidates:

Dennis Kruse 31,525

District 15

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Jack Morris 1,595 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Thomas Wyss 8,216 a Incumbent Wyss was first elected in 1985.

November 2 General election candidates:

Jack Morris 12,014

Thomas Wyss 17,936

District 17

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• No Democrats filed to run for this seat.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Jim Banks 12,458 a
• Tom Wall 7,279

Note: Incumbent Republican Gary Dillon did not run for re-election.

November 2 General election candidates:

Jim Banks 29,356

District 19

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Robert Couse a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Travis Holdman 9,956 a Incumbent Holdman was first elected in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Robert Couse 9,057

Travis Holdman 23,254

District 21

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Chuck Sosbe 3,068 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• James Buck 13,323 a Incumbent Buck was first elected in 2008.

November 2 General election candidates:

Chuck Sosbe 14,186

James Buck 30,985

District 22

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Michael Oxenrider 3,730 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Ronnie Alting 8,769 a Incumbent Alting was first elected in 1998.

November 2 General election candidates:

Michael Oxenrider 8,926

Ronnie Alting 20,418

District 23

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• No Democrats filed to run for this seat.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Phil Boots 15,000 a Incumbent Boots was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:

Phil Boots 27,575

District 25

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Timothy Lanane 6,724 a Incumbent Lanane was first elected in 1997.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Brian Jacobs 6,458 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Timothy Lanane 19,044

Brian Jacobs 16,623

District 26

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Sue Errington 6,510 a Incumbent Errington was first elected in 2006.
• Lewis Coulter 3,025
• B. Jeff Ellison 1,329

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Doug Eckerty 4,051 a
• Kevin Barrett 2,236

November 2 General election candidates:

Sue Errington 14,865

Doug Eckerty 16,339

District 27

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• No Democrats filed to run for this seat.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Allen Paul 10,663 a Incumbent Paul was first elected in 1986.

April 24 Libertarian convention result:

• Donald Crossley a

November 2 General election candidates:

Allen Paul 20,511

Donald Crossley 5,690

District 29

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Robin Shackleford 3,335 a
• James Litton 1,010

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Mike Delph 10,413 a Incumbent Delph was first elected in 2005.

November 2 General election candidates:

Robin Shackleford 15,532

Mike Delph 22,498

District 31

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Frank Anderson a
• Lettie Oliver 3,078 Note: Oliver passed away in March, 2010.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• James Merritt, Jr. 6,932 a Incumbent Merritt was first elected in 1990.

April 24 Libertarian convention result:

• Benjamin Hale a

November 2 General election candidates:

Frank Anderson 14,187

James Merritt, Jr. 16,545

Benjamin Hale 827

District 38

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Timothy Skinner 11,268 a Incumbent Skinner was first elected in 2002.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Bill Webster a

April 24 Libertarian convention result:

• Ed Gluck a

November 2 General election candidates:

Timothy Skinner 17,096

Bill Webster 14,617

Ed Gluck 1,303

District 39

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Steven Thais 7,274 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• John Waterman 7,040 a Incumbent Waterman was first elected in 1994.
• Ron Boger 1,705

November 2 General election candidates:

Steven Thais 13,083

John Waterman 22,340

District 41

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Chris Roller 2,188 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Greg Walker 11,479 a Incumbent Walker was first elected in 2006.

November 2 General election candidates:

Chris Roller 8,977

Greg Walker 23,994

District 43

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• No Democrats filed to run for this seat.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Johnny Nugent 11,737 a Incumbent Nugent was first elected in 1978.
• Lindsay Patterson 4,104

November 2 General election candidates:

Johnny Nugent 32,334

District 45

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• James Lewis 11,872 a Incumbent Lewis was first elected in 1986.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Jim Smith a

November 2 General election candidates:

James Lewis 20,494

Jim Smith 22,299

District 46

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Charles Freiberger 6,365 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Ron Grooms 3,850 a
• Lee Ann Wiseheart 3,576

Note: Incumbent Democrat Connie Sipes did not run for re-election.

November 2 General election candidates:

Charles Freiberger 18,965

Ron Grooms 21,019

District 47

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Richard Young 12,301 a Incumbent Young was first elected in 1988.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Ted Metzger 7,424 a

November 2 General election candidates:

Richard Young 22,970

Ted Metzger 21,915

District 48

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Lindel Hume 8,599 a Incumbent Hume was first elected in 1982.

May 4 GOP primary result:

• No Republicans filed to run for this seat.

November 2 General election candidates:

Lindel Hume 26,840

District 49

May 4 Democratic primary result:

• Patty Avery 4,760 a

May 4 GOP primary result:

• Jim Tomes 3,082 a
• Andrew Wilson 2,968

Note: Incumbent Democrat Bob Deig did not run for re-election.

November 2 General election candidates:

Patty Avery 14,248

Jim Tomes 15,254

See also

• Indiana State Senate
• Indiana State Legislature
• State legislative elections, 2010
• Primary election dates in 2010

External links

• Official Indiana State Senate General Election Results
• List of 2010 primary election candidates for Indiana State Senate
• Final list of Indiana State Senate candidates for the November 2, 2010 election
• Project Vote Smart list of candidates for Indiana State Senate in the November 2, 2010 election

Footnotes

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Current members of the Indiana State Senate

Leadership

Majority Leader:Mark Messmer

Senators

District 1

Dan Dernulc (R)

District 2

Lonnie Randolph (D)

District 3

David Vinzant (D)

District 4

Rodney Pol (D)

District 5

Ed Charbonneau (R)

District 6

Rick Niemeyer (R)

District 7

Brian Buchanan (R)

District 8

Mike Bohacek (R)

District 9

Ryan Mishler (R)

District 10

David Niezgodski (D)

District 11

Linda Rogers (R)

District 12

Blake Doriot (R)

District 13

Susan Glick (R)

District 14

Tyler Johnson (R)

District 15

Liz Brown (R)

District 16

Justin Busch (R)

District 17

Andy Zay (R)

District 18

Stacey Donato (R)

District 19

Travis Holdman (R)

District 20

Scott Baldwin (R)

District 21

James Buck (R)

District 22

Ronnie Alting (R)

District 23

Spencer Deery (R)

District 24

John Crane (R)

District 25

Mike Gaskill (R)

District 26

Scott Alexander (R)

District 27

Jeff Raatz (R)

District 28

Michael Crider (R)

District 29

J.D. Ford (D)

District 30

Fady Qaddoura (D)

District 31

Kyle Walker (R)

District 32

Aaron Freeman (R)

District 33

Greg Taylor (D)

District 34

La Keisha Jackson (D)

District 35

Michael Young (R)

District 36

Cyndi Carrasco (R)

District 37

Rodric Bray (R)

District 38

Greg Goode (R)

District 39

Eric Bassler (R)

District 40

Shelli Yoder (D)

District 41

Greg Walker (R)

District 42

Jean Leising (R)

District 43

Randy Maxwell (R)

District 44

Eric Koch (R)

District 45

Chris Garten (R)

District 46

Andrea Hunley (D)

District 47

Gary Byrne (R)

District 48

Mark Messmer (R)

District 49

Jim Tomes (R)

District 50

Vaneta Becker (R)

Republican Party (40)

Democratic Party (10)