1982 United States Senate election in Indiana

The 1982 United States Senate election in Indiana was held on November 2, 1982. Incumbent Republican United States Senator Richard Lugar faced Democratic United States Representative Floyd Fithian in the general election. Lugar won with a margin of 54% of the vote, compared to Fithian's 46%. This was Lugar's closest election out of his 6 senate elections for the class 1 seat.

1982 United States Senate election in Indiana

← 1976 November 2, 1982 1988 →
 
Nominee Richard Lugar Floyd Fithian
Party Republican Democratic
Popular vote 978,301 828,400
Percentage 53.83% 45.58%

County results
Lugar:      40-50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%
Fithian:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%

U.S. senator before election

Richard Lugar
Republican

Elected U.S. Senator

Richard Lugar
Republican

Republican primary

edit

Candidates

edit

Results

edit

Incumbent United States Senator Richard Lugar won the republican nomination in an uncontested primary on May 4, 1982.[1]

Republican primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Lugar (Incumbent) 498,248 100
Total votes 498,248

Democratic primary

edit

Candidates

edit

Campaign

edit

After the 1980 Census, the Indiana General Assembly redistricted Indiana's congressional districts, pushing Democratic representative Floyd Fithian's district into more conservative territory.[2] After redistricting, Fithian, the three term incumbent of Indiana's 2nd congressional district, decided to run for Secretary of State of Indiana, but withdrew from the primary to ultimately run for the United States Senate. He challenged fellow Democrat and one term Indiana State Senator Michael Kendall of Jasper, Indiana, who Fithian earlier encouraged to run for the Senate.[3] Kendall, who represented Indiana's 47th Senate district and formed the Notre Dame Students for Robert F. Kennedy organization during the 1968 presidential election,[4] was seen a young progressive alternative to Fithian, who he called the "ideological twin of Richard Lugar."[5] After the bitterly contested primary, Fithian prevailed over Kendall, winning with 59% of the vote.[6]

Results

edit
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Floyd Fithian 262,644 59.5
Democratic Michael Kendall 178,702 40.5
Total votes 441,346 100

General election

edit

In the general election, Lugar faced Fithian and American Party candidate Raymond James.[7]

On November 5, 1982, Lugar defeated Fithian and James in the general election, winning 74 of Indiana's 93 counties.[8]

United States Senate election in Indiana, 1982[7]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Lugar (Incumbent) 978,301 53.8
Democratic Floyd Fithian 828,400 45.6
American Raymond James 10,568 0.6
Republican hold

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ Monica Davey (April 17, 2012). "Once Every 36 Years, Primary Fight for Indiana Senator". nytimes.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. ^ "Floyd Fithian, 76; Congressman, Farmer, Purdue Professor". latimes.com. July 4, 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  3. ^ Associated Press (May 5, 1982). "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  4. ^ Ray E. Boomhower (2008). Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary. Indiana University Press. ISBN 978-0253007759. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  5. ^ "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade. Associated Press. May 5, 1982. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  6. ^ "IN US Senate – D Primary". ourcampaigns.com. June 13, 2005. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  7. ^ a b Thomas A. Ladd, Benjamin J. Guthrie (May 5, 1983). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 5, 1982" (PDF). clerk.house.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  8. ^ "IN US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. June 15, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2013.