INDIANAPOLIS — In a strong Democratic election year, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth was re-elected Tuesday to a second term as the 8th District congressman representing southwestern and western Indiana.
Ellsworth, D-Evansville, had captured nearly 67 percent of the 8th District vote to Republican challenger Greg Goode of Terre Haute.
A former two-term Vanderburgh County sheriff, Ellsworth ran as a conservative Democrat.
“It feels good — Greg and I ran a fair campaign, it was a respectful campaign from both camps,” Ellsworth said during his Evansville victory speech Tuesday night. “That being said, we won, so we’ll get some sleep tonight and then it’s time to get back to work.”
Ellsworth said his priorities are supporting troops, fixing and growing the economy, tackling health-care issues and dealing with illegal immigration. “There’s a long list of things we need to work on,” he said.
Energy policy and high gasoline prices had emerged as a late issue in the race. Goode was among a group of congressional challengers that visited Alaska and called for opening the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling.
During the campaign, Ellsworth had said the nation needs to eradicate its dependence on foreign and domestic oil by investing in alternative fuels, clean coal, wind and solar energy and “smart domestic drilling” off Alaska’s coast.
Ellsworth had voted for the final version of the $700 billion financial-rescue package, concluding it was necessary in order for banks to extend credit to local businesses. Good had opposed the bailout, saying it rewarded people who made bad decisions.
Goode, who previously worked for Indiana State University, conceded defeat about 9 p.m. Tuesday at his campaign headquarters in Terre Haute and congratulated Ellsworth. “I may disagree with my opponent on a host of issues, but the people have spoken and I wish him the very best.”
Ellsworth, the new president and members of Congress will face significant challenges, Goode said. “They are going to be in my thoughts and prayers,” he said.
Goode described the challenges of running against “pretty powerful forces that are very well funded.”
At one point, he told his supporters, “Everyone, I’m sorry I let you down,” but they let him know that was not the case.
Goode said he’s not sure if he will run for office again. “I don’t know. You never say never.”
For the next few weeks, he intends to spend quality time with his family, including 3-year-old son Jackson.
“It will be an opportunity for reflection and self assessment and we’ll make a determination on where we go from here,” Goode said.
Goode said he’s proud of his campaign and those who supported him. “We were significantly behind when it came to campaign contributions, and we had to make up for it through a strong grass roots network.
“I just wish I could have performed a little bit better and ultimately it’s my responsibility to be able to command the support necessary to win and I didn’t do that and that’s no reflection on any of those people who worked so hard. It’s a reflection on me. I have to be the one who bears that responsibility.”
“It just didn’t work out this time. It wasn’t meant to be.”
The 8th District runs along the Illinois border to as far north as Warren County, and includes most of Southwest Indiana, including Vanderburgh, Warrick, Posey, Gibson, Pike, Daviess and Knox counties. Ellsworth won the 8th District seat two years ago in a hotly contested fight against former congressman John Hostettler, a Republican.
In a recent debate, Ellsworth had cited his work on behalf of constituents during his freshman term, including efforts to help 3,600 people who had trouble with federal agencies.
Although Republicans had tried to portray Ellsworth as a yes-man for Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Ellsworth noted that in one of his first congressional votes he defied the speaker, supporting a different House majority leader than the candidate Pelosi favored.
Sue Loughlin of the Tribune-Star contributed to this story.
Election 2008
November 5, 2008
Ellsworth downs Goode in District 8
- Election 2008
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Vigo County election results
More than 44,000 ballots were cast Tuesday of the nearly 80,000 registered voters, giving Vigo County a 55.76 percent voter turnout. Voters who cast provisional ballots have until noon Nov. 14 to show proper identification in the clerk’s office. Members of the Election Board will certify the results by the end of Nov. 14.
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Obama triumphs, will be first black U.S. president
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- Ellsworth downs Goode in District 8 In a strong Democratic election year, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth was re-elected Tuesday to a second term as the 8th District congressman representing southwestern and western Indiana.
- House District 44: Former Greencastle major wins A former Greencastle mayor will head off to the Statehouse come January, and she said Tuesday night she’s ready to go.
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YOUTH VOTE: Sarah Scott students elect Obama, Daniels
Tribune-Star
Students and staff at Sarah Scott Middle School voted to make Barack Obama president and Mitch Daniels governor during a mock election Tuesday. - Vigo picks presidential winner again Vigo County voters chose Democrat Sen. Barack Obama as president, maintaining its status as a “bellwether” county, picking the winner in every presidential election since 1892 with only two exceptions.
- Harrison Township opts to keep assessor Voters in eight precincts in Harrison Township opted to retain a township assessor under a referendum vote on Tuesday’s election ballot. That’s was good news to Mick Love, who will retain his elected seat as Harrison Township assessor. The final tally on Public Question No. 1 was 6,587 for a “yes,” which would remove the office, to 9,506 for “no” which would retain the office.
- House District 46: Tincher pulls out win The race between Democrat incumbent Rep. Vern Tincher and Republican challenger Bob Heaton for the Indiana House District 46 seat went down to the wire Tuesday night, with Tincher pulling out a win.
- Republican Daniels wins 2nd term as Indiana governor Republican Mitch Daniels defeated former Democratic congresswoman Jill Long Thompson on Tuesday to win a second term as governor, but he may need a supply of olive branches to advance his agenda if Democrats retain control of the Indiana House.
- House District 45: Borders wins close race The Indiana House District 45 race between incumbent Republican Bruce Borders and Democrat Rick Marshall was too close to call for much of the evening Tuesday, with the final outcome apparent near midnight.
- House District 43: Kersey remains in seat Rep. Clyde Kersey, D-Terre Haute, will remain in the Indiana General Assembly for another two years, as the 12-year incumbent defeated Republican challenger Ryan Cummins for the House District 43 seat.
- Clay County's turnout one for record books Clay County’s voter turnout was one for the record books, officials said Tuesday evening.
- Parke County incumbents retain their seats Parke County incumbents retained their seats in Tuesday’s election. Republican County At-large Councilmen Dale Gerrish and John Pratt will be joined by fellow Republican J.B. Butler, a newcomer who received more votes than Gerrish and Pratt. The three GOP candidates won over the three Democrats in that race.
- Nearly 64 percent of registered Vermillion voters cast ballots Vermillion County voters turned out in big numbers Tuesday to hand victories to Democrats up and down the ballot. Nearly 64 percent of registered voters turned out in the mostly rural county, which includes the towns of Clinton and Newport.
- Sullivan County votes Repbulican in national election For the second time in its traditionally Democratic history, Sullivan County voted Republican in the national election. Overall, Democrats saw unexpected upsets, incumbent Republicans lost a few offices, and voter turnout here was exceptionally high, as expected.
- Indiana State students await impact of their votes Ashley Roce sat in the Cunningham Memorial Library eating pizza with her friends, waiting to see the impact of her first vote in a presidential election.
- Indiana transplants watch from east coast Indiana has done what couldn’t have been predicted in 2004: It has gone Blue — and by so doing, the Hoosier state has broken its 44-year tradition of being a Red state, and helped put a Democrat in the White House.
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Voter turnout in Clark County, Ill., highest it's ever been
Voter turnout in Clark County, Ill., was the largest it has ever been, but it wasn’t as high as County Clerk Bill Downey had hoped for.
- Presidential election turnout down in Edgar County Despite an increase in registered voters for Tuesday’s election, turnout was lower than the last presidential election in Edgar County, Ill.
- Incumbents easily win school board seats Three Vigo County School Board incumbents readily won re-election Tuesday. In District 1, Mel Burks and Jackie Lower retained their seats, defeating Larry Faulkner. In unofficial results, Lower had 24,321 votes, Burks, 19,253, and Faulkner, 11,383.
- Democratic Commissioner Mason gets another four years Vigo County voters on Tuesday returned Democratic Commissioner Paul Mason for an additional four-year term as one of the county’s top executive officials.
- Rader wins Vigo judge Superior Court Divisioin 5 The winner of Vigo County judge for Superior Court Division 5 is Dr. Michael Rader. With 23,636 votes, or 56 percent, Rader defeated Republican challenger Dan Kelly, who earned 18,216 votes, or 44 percent. Totals are unofficial results from the Vigo County Election office.
- Allsup defeats Royer in Vigo Recorder race In a night that was friendly to Democrats, Nancy Allsup won the office of Vigo County Recorder, defeating Republican Bruce Royer. Allsup, with 26,486 votes, or 65 percent, celebrated her victory Tuesday night with friends and family at the Paradise Pavilion in West Terre Haute.
- Mansard wins another term as Vigo County clerk Democrat Patricia “Pat” Mansard has won another term as Vigo County clerk. Mansard, who has served as county clerk for 20 years, was busily working Tuesday night to finish up election results, but she took a minute to savor her win.
- FINAL: VIGO COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Final election night results from Vigo County
- FINAL: VERMILLION COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2008 Election results from Vermillion County
- FINAL: CLAY COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Election results from across Clay County
- FINAL: PARKE COUNTY ELECTION 2008 RESULTS Election results from Parke County
- FINAL: SULLIVAN COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS 2008 Results from Sullivan County
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NEW: Vigo County’s election record cited by Karl Rove
Karl Rove, the man credited with orchestrating President George W. Bush’s two successful campaigns for the presidency, reportedly singled out Vigo County as a place to watch tonight when election returns start coming in.
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