United States elections, 2018
Indiana
IN Sen: The marquee race in the state, maybe in the country. Joe Donnelly is by far the most endangered Senate Democrat and trails both Todd Rokita and Greg Ballard, the major figures in the Republican primary. Ballard runs up a good margin in native Indianapolis, but Rokita appeals more to rural voters who make up the base of the party. Neither candidate tries to particularly seize the Tea Party mantle like Stutzman did two years earlier. Rokita's win puts him in pole position to win in November - Donnelly's lightning does not strike twice and he is defeated 53-46 by Rokita to become the first Senate incumbent to officially lose as the count comes in. R+1 (Republicans now have effected a 50-50 tie in the Senate and need only one more seat for a majority).
IN-2: Walorski campaigns to retake her old seat from Rep. John Broden, one of the Democratic surprises of 2016. However, Broden's campaign operation and terrific constituent outreach network buoys him against the general R tide in the state to give him another narrow win, and he is returned to Congress by an 1,800 vote margin that in fact expands after a recount. Walorski announces she is leaving politics after the result.
IN-4: With Rokita retiring to seek the Senate seat, State Rep. Randy Truitt wins a wide open primary and in this very Republican district easily wins the general election with nearly 60% of the vote.
IN Legislature: GOP control of the Senate remains 34-16, with the party mostly maxed out of seats in this class. In the House, Republicans take back two seats lost in 2016 to beef up their margin to 66-34.
Todd Rokita is a Tea Party guy.
