2010 Indiana's 3rd congressional district special election

Background

Two weeks after winning renomination, Souder resigned both from office as U.S. Representative and as the Republican nominee for the Third district following the revelation of an affair with Tracy Meadows Jackson, a married female staffer. Governor Mitch Daniels (R), in the interest of cutting the costs of holding the election, scheduled the special election to succeed him to occur on the same day as the general election.

Nominating caucuses

As per Indiana state law, the parties held caucuses within thirty days following Souder's resignation to choose their nominees for the special election.

Republican

Republicans held their caucus on June 12. State Senator Marlin Stutzman, the runner-up in the Republican U.S. Senatorial primary, won the nomination decisively in the second round over state Representative Randy Borror, car salesman Bob Thomas, Fort Wayne City Councilwoman Liz Brown, and Ryan Elijah.

Democratic

Democrats choose former Fort Wayne city councilman Tom Hayhurst, who had won the Democratic primary for the general election earlier, as their nominee for the special election.

Libertarian

Tea Party activist and ex-Republican Scott W. Wise, also their nominee for the general election, was chosen as the Libertarian nominee for the special election.

Polling

Election results

Given the district's strong conservative bent, which at the time had a Cook Partisan Voting Index of R+14, Stutzman, as predicted by many political prognosticators, handily won the simultaneous special and general elections in November.

Special election

General election

References

References

1. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100521065051/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gG1FTYolYkpS5NuRUB_yYVq_xiKgD9FPA09O0 Indiana Rep. Souder says he'll resign over affair] May 18, 2010, ''Associated Press.''
2. "Special congressional election set for Nov. 2 | the Journal Gazette | Fort Wayne, IN".
3. "Our Campaigns - IN District 03 - R Replacement Convention Race - Jun 12, 2010".
4. "Stutzman wins Republican caucus | the Journal Gazette".
5. {{usurped
6. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101030102637/http://www.indianasnewscenter.com/news/local/Newest-Poll-Data-with-Surprises-105821978.html SurveyUSA]
7. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101102231616/http://aroundfortwayne.info/blog/?p=14559&cpage=1 Riggs Research]
8. "Our Campaigns - IN - District 03 - Special Election Race - Nov 02, 2010".
9. [https://archive.today/20120805194423/http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/election/general/general2010?page=district&countyID=-1&officeID=5&districtID=3&candidate= General elections 2010]