The blue wave crashed into Indiana’s Statehouse on election night.
Indianapolis voters helped flip four seats to Democrats in the Indiana House of Representatives. Democrats have broken House Republicans’ supermajority, which is when one party controls at least two-thirds of the seats.
In the state Senate, Indianapolis-area voters flipped one local seat to a Democrat. Voters also kept a Democrat in the seat occupied by J.D. Ford, who upset Republican Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Mirror Indy kept an eye on nine competitive races in state House and Senate districts that include Indianapolis.
Democrats made gains in both chambers statewide. As of Wednesday morning, the Associated Press has called 51 seats in the 100-chamber Indiana House for Republicans and 43 seats for Democrats. The Republicans lead in the Senate 33 to 14. House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, lost his seat in the blue wave.
State senators serve four-year terms and state reps service two-year terms.
Ruckelshaus vs. Moorhead in Indiana Senate District 29
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat Kristina Moorhead.
With 99% of votes counted, Moorhead leads Republican John Ruckelshaus 62% to 38% in the westside district.
“I feel incredible,” Moorhead said.
Moorhead spoke to Mirror Indy while on her way to Hamilton County to be with Democrat J.D. Ford, who has declared victory against Republican Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
“The determination to get the work done,” Moorhead said, “I’ve never seen it like that in Indiana before.”
Moorhead most recently worked as a deputy vice president and lobbyist for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. She campaigned on increasing funding for public education and improving access to reproductive rights.
Ruckelshaus previously represented neighboring District 30 from 2016 to 2020 before losing to Fady Qaddoura, an Indianapolis Democrat. Ruckelshaus’s campaign priorities included lowering income and property taxes.
Albright vs. Forestal in Indiana Senate District 31
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat Kerry Forestal.
With 99% of votes counted, Forestal leads Republican Juanita Albright 58% to 42% in the northeast district that includes part of Lawrence.
With 92% of votes counted, Forestal leads Albright 58% to 42% in the northeast district that includes part of Lawrence.
Forestal took the stage at the Indiana Democratic Party’s watch party to shouts of “senator” from the crowd.
“That’s a new title I gotta get used to,” he said with a smile.
Forestal will replace Republican Kyle Walker, a former Marion County GOP chairman who was first elected to the Statehouse in 2020. He announced in 2025 that he wouldn’t seek reelection after opposing the mid-decade redistricting push that ultimately failed.
Forestal is the Marion County sheriff, a position he was elected to in 2018. He has campaigned on lowering healthcare costs, making childcare affordable and holding utility companies accountable.
Albright is a Hamilton Southeastern school board member who won election as part of a conservative bloc and an internal medicine doctor at Ascension St. Vincent. Her campaign priorities include pricing transparency from hospitals.
DeLaney vs. Bill in Indiana House District 86
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat incumbent Edward O. DeLaney.
With 99% of votes counted, DeLaney leads Republican Glenn Bill 78% to 22% in the northside House district that includes Broad Ripple and Traders Point.
DeLaney was first elected in 2008.
Jeter vs. Yocum in Indiana House District 88
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat Stephanie Jo Yocum.
With 99% of votes counted, Yocum leads Republican incumbent Chris Jeter 54% to 46% in the eastside House district that includes part of Lawrence.
Jeter chairs the judiciary committee, which considers legislation that impacts the courts.
Jeter said in a statement he’s looking forward to spending more time with family and focusing on his law practice.
“While this is certainly not the outcome we hoped for,” the statement says, “I accept that decision with humility and respect.”
Yocum couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.
Gore vs. Weingarten in Indiana House District 89
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat incumbent Mitch Gore.
With 99% of votes counted, Gore leads Libertarian Drew Weingarten 78% to 22% in the eastside district that includes part of Beech Grove and Cumberland.
Gore was first elected in 2020.
Ireland vs. Boyd in Indiana House District 90
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat David Lawrence Boyd.
With 99% of votes counted, Boyd defeated Republican incumbent Andrew Ireland 51% to 49% in the southeast side district that includes Wanamaker.
“I noticed Americans and Hoosiers were dissatisfied with what’s going on in our country and state,” Boyd told Mirror Indy. “I was confident in the voters to make the right choice.”
Ireland, who was elected in 2024, posted on X that the loss is a “humbling setback” and called for new Republican leadership in Indiana.
“For Republicans, the message could not be clearer,” he posted. “Voters spoke in May and again this fall.”
Behning vs. Hurt in Indiana House District 91
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat Jarren Hurt.
With 99% of votes counted, Hurt leads Republican incumbent Robert Behning 54% to 46% in the southwest side district that includes Camby and the Indianapolis International Airport.
Hurt told Mirror Indy he didn’t pay close attention to results on election night. He has three kids 8 and younger.
“We just got ready for bed,” Hurt said. “I thought I’m not gonna win anyway.”
Instead, Hurt unseated Behning, who was first elected in 1992 and chairs the education committee, which makes key decisions on school funding and curriculum.
“I gave it the old college try,” Hurt said. “I didn’t do anything astounding.”
Behning told Mirror Indy his loss doesn’t have anything to do with his policy positions. Rather, he said, he and other Republicans were the “victims of a very unpopular president.”
“There was a blue wave,” Behning said, “and I was in the middle of it and swept away with it.”
McGuire vs. Rosberg in House District 93
The Associated Press has called the race for Eva M. Rosberg.
With 99% of votes counted, Rosberg leads Republican incumbent Julie McGuire 51% to 49% in the southside House district that includes Southport.
“I’m just so excited to represent Perry Township,” Rosberg told Mirror Indy.
McGuire was first elected in 2022.
Moed vs. Renholzberger in House District 97
The Associated Press has called the race for Democrat incumbent Justin Moed.
With 99% of votes counted, Moed leads Libertarian Mark Renholzberger 84% to 16% in the downtown House district that includes Garfield Park and Hawthorne.
Moed was first elected in 2012.
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Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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