Indiana Democrats shattered the GOP’s 14-year supermajority in the state House of Representatives. Democrats flipped at least four Republican-held seats on Tuesday.
Before the election, Republicans held 70 seats and Democrats held 30 in the 100-member chamber. Democrats needed a net gain of four seats to end the two-thirds GOP hold.
Indiana House supermajority ends
Democrats scored big wins in the rapidly purpling suburbs north of Indianapolis. They surpassed the four-seat margin required to break the two-thirds GOP hold on the chamber and wield greater influence there.
Democratic challenger Tiffany Stoner thrashed Rep. Becky Cash, the Republican from Zionsville she had lost to by just 64 votes two years ago. The margin was 59% to 41% as of 9:27 p.m., more than an hour after the AP’s 8:10 p.m. race call.
Next door, Democratic challenger Racheal Bleicher bested former Indianapolis Colts punter and Rep. Hunter Smith of Zionsville. She had 53% of the vote to the first-term representative’s 47%, with 99% of ballots counted shortly after the AP’s 9:33 p.m. race call.
House Speaker Todd Huston, one of Indiana’s most powerful politicians, conceded his race to Democratic opponent Lauren Cole. Huston was trailing with 99% reporting.
Breaking the Republican supermajority means Democrats gain the power to disrupt any act that requires two-thirds of the chamber, such as making quorum. Republicans are expected to retain a majority in the House.
What is confirmed: Democrats broke the supermajority Republicans had held since 2012. Full unofficial results were not complete on election night, and final certification will determine the exact partisan breakdown. Democrats also made headway in the Senate, gaining at least four seats against the supermajority Republicans have held there since the 2010 election.
