United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Indiana will be held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Indiana in the United States House of Representatives. Indiana has nine seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The current delegation comprises five Democrats and four Republicans.

District makeup

Polling

District 1

This district includes a small strip of northwest Indiana and has been represented by Democrat Pete Visclosky since January 1985. The district has been one of the most Democratic in Indiana. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.viscloskyforcongress.us/ Pete Visclosky (D-i) campaign site]
* [http://markleyva.com/ Mark Leyva (R) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Pete Visclosky (incumbent)
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party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Mark Leyva
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District 2

This district is centered on South Bend, Indiana and the Indiana portion of the Michiana region. It has been represented by Democrat Joe Donnelly since January 2007. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Democrat Favored'.
* [http://www.donnellyforuscongress.com/ Joe Donnelly (D-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.puckett08.com/ Luke Puckett (R) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Joe Donnelly (incumbent)
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party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Luke Puckett
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District 3

This district is located in the northeast corner of Indiana and has a large population center in Fort Wayne. George W. Bush defeated John Kerry in this district 68% to 31%. It has been represented by Republican Mark Souder since January 1995. CQ Politics forecasts the race as Republican Favored'.
* [http://www.souderforcongress.com/ Mark Souder (R-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.montaganoforcongress.com/ Mike Montagano (D) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/polls/in/08-in-03-ge-svm.php Souder (R-i) vs Montagano (D)] graph of poll results from "Pollster.com"

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Mark Souder (incumbent)
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party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Michael Montagano
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District 4

This district is located in west-central Indiana. Located within the district is the city of West Lafayette and many suburban towns. It has been represented by Republican Steve Buyer since January 1993. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.stevebuyer.org/ Steve Buyer (R-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.nels4congress.com/ Nels Ackerson (D) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Steve Buyer (incumbent)
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party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Nels Ackerson
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District 5

This district located mostly north of Indianapolis the district is one of the most reliably Republican in America, having voted 71%-28% for George W. Bush in 2004. Currently represented by Republican Dan Burton. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.indianadan.com/ Dan Burton (R-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.maryettaruleyforcongress.com/ Mary Ruley (D) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-05 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN05&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Dan Burton (incumbent)
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party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Mary Ruley
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District 6

This district takes in a large portion of eastern Indiana, including the cities of Muncie, Anderson, and Richmond. It is currently represented by Republican Mike Pence. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.
* [http://www.mikepence.com/ Mike Pence (R-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.barrywelsh.org/ Barry Welsh (D) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-06 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN06&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Mike Pence (incumbent)
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party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Barry Welsh
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District 7

This district is in the heart of Central Indiana and encompasses most of Marion County/Indianapolis. André Carson won the special election to fill this seat and has represented ushr|Indiana|7| since March 13, 2008. After winning contested primary elections, Carson and his Republican challenger in the special election, Jon Elrod, were set to face off in the General Election but Elrod dropped out. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/NEWS05/80618048&s=TimeStampDescending&page=1 Indystar.com: Elrod drops race against Andre Carson] ] Gabrielle Campo was selected by a party caucus to face the incumbent, Carson. [ [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080719/NEWS0502/807190444&GID=JpHfqhl9iFH3PoRERySZZ6FGM8j1mb14vDojugL72h4%3D Indystar.com: GOP selects a newcomer to face Carson] ] CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Democrat Favored'.
* [http://www.andrecarsonforcongress.com/home/ André Carson (D-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-07 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN07&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = André Carson (incumbent)
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party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Gabrielle Campo
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District 8

This district has been nicknamed the "Bloody Eighth" because of a series of hard-fought tight campaigns and political reversals. [cite news | title= General election ] It ousted six incumbents from 1966 to 1982. The election in 1984 was so close that it was decided in Congress. In 2000, a "New York Times" reporter said of the district: "With a populist streak and a conservative bent, this district does not cotton to country-club Republicans or to social-engineering liberals," and also said "More than 95 percent white and about 41 percent rural, the region shares much of the flavor of the Bible Belt." [Dirk Johnson, [http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D00E5D8113CF933A25753C1A9669C8B63 "The 2000 Campaign: An Indiana Race; Conservatives Face Off in Quirky Populist District"] , "New York Times", October 10, 2000] Evansville and Terre Haute are located within its limits and is currently represented by Democrat Brad Ellsworth. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Democrat Favored'.
* [http://www.ellsworthforcongress.com/ Brad Ellsworth (D-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.greggoode.com/ Greg Goode (R) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-08 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN08&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Brad Ellsworth (incumbent)
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party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Greg Goode
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District 9

This district is located in southeast Indiana. This swing district has been recently fought out by Democrat Baron Hill and Republican Mike Sodrel. Hill beat Sodrel in 2002, Sodrel beat Hill in 2004, and most recently Hill beat Sodrel in 2006 to become the 9th's representative. The largest city located within the district is Bloomington followed by; Columbus, New Albany, Jeffersonville, and Clarksville which all have Democratic Mayors or Council Presidents. CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Leans Democratic'.
* [http://www.hoosiersforhill.com/ Baron Hill (D-i) campaign site]
* [http://www.mikesodrel.com/ Mike Sodrel (R) campaign site]
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-IN-09 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=IN09&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/polls/in/08-in-09-ge-svh.php Sodrel (R) vs Hill (D)] graph of poll results from "Pollster.com"

Election box candidate with party link
party = Democratic Party (United States)
candidate = Baron Hill (incumbent)
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party = Republican Party (United States)
candidate = Mike Sodrel
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party = Libertarian Party (United States)
candidate = Eric Schansberg
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ee also

*United States House of Representatives elections, 2008
*Indiana gubernatorial election, 2008

References

External links

* [http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/ Indiana Elections Division]
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=IN&go33.x=13&go33.y=12 U.S. Congress candidates for Indiana] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/Indiana Indiana U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=IN Campaign contributions for Indiana congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org

sequence
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list= United States House elections in Indiana 2008
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