Todd Young Wins Republican Preliminary for Senate in Indiana

Rep. Todd Young defeated Rep. Marlin Stutzman in the Republican primary for US Senate. He will face Baron Hill from Democrat in general election which will be held in November. He deprived Baron Hill in 2010 general election for Congress.

A controversy was surrounding Todd Young in his race early this year. His opponent Stutzman and Indiana State Democratic Party filed complaints that he did not have enough signature to appear on the ballot. In order to run for US Senate, candidate in each of the state's nine Congressional districts are required to obtain 500 signatures.

Stutzman campaign found that Young had 497 signatures in the first Congressional District according to Fox 59 News. While Democrats claimed Young only acquired 498 in same district. Another party, an independent IndyStar count of the signatures and also found 497 as well.

Lawyer for Rep. Young, in a defense argued there were four signatures missing, which either lost or not validated because of clerical error. Therefore, voters in Indiana should not be disenfranchised or not be able to vote Congressman because of clerical error.

Following the complaints, State Election Commission scheduled a hearing regarding his candidacy. After a hearing, the comission voted and ruled that Young stayed on the ballot.

Young expected Republicans to unify behind him despite an internal party dispute according to ABC News. It is because the race in Indiana would have national implications for Republicans. As Democrats will seek to gain four seats in Senate in order to take majority from Republicans.

"Hoosiers are practical people and Hoosier Republicans in particular have a history off unifying," Young said. "They understand the importance of holding on to this seat and beating Baron Hill."

During the campaign, Todd Young presented himself as a pragmatic who is more interested in getting things done more than just lobbing verbal bombs. While Stutzman presented himself as an outsider and small-town farmer to attract Republican voters. Both candidates will run for the United States Senate seat held by Dan Coats who retired at the end of his term.

Young is backed by mainstream Republicans, and according to  The Washington Post, allies of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) poured millions of dollars to support the former US Marine captain. The mainstream Republicans also wanted to prove that they can maintain control of Congress despite Donald Trump win in the Indiana Republican presidential primary with more than 50% of the vote.

Rep. Todd Young defeated Rep. Marlin Stutzman in the Republican primary for US Senate in Indiana. In the November general election he will face Baron Hill, a Democrat whom he also defeated in 2010 general election for Congress.

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Republican primary, Todd Young, Marlin Stutzman, Baron Hill

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