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 53% of the vote, compared to Fithian's 46%.

1982 United States Senate election in Indiana
November 2, 1982
 
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

Elections in Indiana

Democratic primary

Candidates

Campaign

After the 1980 Census, the Indiana General Assembly redistricted Indiana's congressional districts, pushing Democratic representative Floyd Fithian's district into more conservative territory.[1] 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.[2] 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 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
Democratic primary results
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Floyd Fithian 262,644 59.51
Democratic Michael Kendall 178,702 40.49
Total votes 441,346 100

Republican primary

Candidates

Results

Incumbent United States Senator Richard Lugar won the republican nomination in an uncontested primary on May 4, 1982.[7]

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

General election

In the general election, Lugar faced Fithian and American Party candidate Raymond James.[8]

On November 5, 1982, Lugar defeated Fithian and James in the general election, winning 74 of Indiana's 93 counties.[9]

United States Senate election in Indiana, 1982[10]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Richard Lugar (Incumbent) 978,301 53.83
Democratic Floyd Fithian 828,400 45.58
American Raymond James 0.58
gollark: Who's "Trent"?
gollark: Nope. Reduces it a lot.
gollark: Well, they don't have a great success rate.
gollark: Yeeeees? I mean, they've been extensively tested.
gollark: Just seal them in giant airtight hamster balls when they're outside. With air scrubbers obviously.

See also
  • United States Senate elections, 1982 and 1983

References
  1. "Floyd Fithian, 76; Congressman, Farmer, Purdue Professor". latimes.com. July 4, 2003. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  2. "Floyd James Fithian Commander, United States Navy Member of Congress". arlingtoncemetery.net. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  3. Associated Press (May 5, 1982). "Senate Candidates Chosen in Indiana". Toledo Blade. news.google.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  4. Ray E. Boomhower (February 27, 2008). Robert F. Kennedy and the 1968 Indiana Primary. Indiana University Press. 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. Monica Davey (April 17, 2012). "Once Every 36 Years, Primary Fight for Indiana Senator". nytimes.com. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  8. 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.
  9. "IN US Senate". ourcampaigns.com. June 15, 2011. Retrieved February 22, 2013.
  10. 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.

See also
  • United States Senate elections, 1982
  • United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 1982
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