Live election blog: Central Indiana polls closed; results being posted
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Polls closed at 6 p.m. in central Indiana, and the candidates and the voters were poised to learn who will be Indiana’s next governor and attorney general, and the state’s next U.S. senator and U.S. representatives.
Follow this blog for quick information after Tuesday’s election in Indiana.
All Indiana polls will be closed by 7 p.m. Voters in line when polls close will be allowed to cast ballots.
News 8 will have election coverage through 8 p.m. Tuesday, and again from 10-11:30 p.m. Tuesday. Also, election coverage will be on Wednesday’s “Daybreak.” Running election results, as they are provided from Indiana counties, are available at WISHTV.com and on the lower portion of the screen on WISH-TV during newscasts.
7:06 p.m.: AP says Mark Messmer wins reelection to US House
Republican Mark Messmer won election to a U.S. House seat representing Indiana on Tuesday. The former Indiana state Senate majority leader defeated Democrat Erik Hurt, an Evansville movie theater manager. Messmer resigned from his state Senate post in September to focus on winning the seat vacated by retiring seven-term U.S. Rep. Larry Bucshon. Messmer campaigned on deporting anyone who is in the country illegally, supporting Israel and promoting blockchain technology development without a central bank-issued cryptocurrency. The Associated Press declared Messmer the winner.
7 p.m.: AP says Trump takes Indiana; Banks wins Senate seat; Braun to become governor
Republican Donald Trump won the presidential election in Indiana on Tuesday. The reliably conservative state, where Republicans have held the governor’s office for 20 years, gave Trump its 11 electoral votes over Democrat Kamala Harris. Indiana has been favorable toward Trump in his three races for the White House. In 2016, the year he won the presidency, and again in 2020, Trump took 57% of the Hoosier state vote. The Associated Press declared Trump the winner at 7 p.m. EST.
Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks won Indiana’s open U.S. Senate seat on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Valerie McCray. Banks passed on running for a fourth term in northeastern Indiana’s heavily Republican 3rd District to instead seek the state’s open U.S. Senate seat. Republican Sen. Mike Braun skipped a reelection bid so that he could run for governor. Banks, a combative defender of former President Donald Trump who is a frequent Fox News Channel guest, voted against certifying Joe Biden’s presidential election victory after a mob of Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The Associated Press declared Banks the winner at 7 p.m. EST.
Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun won election as governor in Indiana on Tuesday, defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick and extending the GOP’s 20-year hold on the office. Braun, the wealthy founder of a national auto parts distribution business, is leaving the Senate after one term. He will succeed Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited. McCormick was a Republican when she was elected Indiana’s schools superintendent in 2016, but she split from the GOP over education policy and changed her party affiliation to Democrat after her term ended in early 2021. The Associated Press declared Braun the winner at 7 p.m. EST.
6:45 p.m.
With 10% of the results counting in heavily Republican Hamilton County, two Democrats were in the lead. Kamala Harris led in the presidential race, and Jennifer McCormick led in the Indiana governor race.
6:40 p.m.
- Indiana governor: With 8% of precincts reporting, Mike Braun leads with 54%.
- Indiana attorney general: with 8% of precincts reporting: Todd Rokita leads with 57%.
- U.S. senator for Indiana: With 8% of precincts reporting: Jim Banks leads with 58%
- President (Indiana votes only): With 9% of precincts reporting: Donald Trump leads with 57%.
- U.S. House, Indiana District 3: With 33% reporting: Marlin Stuzman leads with 60%.
- U.S. House, Indiana District 8: With 7% reporting: Mark Messmer leads with 71%.