Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R) might face a difficult primary challenge after the changes to his current district.
While the redistricting changes do not drastically alter the chances of a Democrat taking the seat in 2012, they were substantial enough that some questioned whether Bucshon, a political novice until he ran for the House last year, had tried to lobby state mapmakers for his new territory.
In any case, it's because of these changes that Democrats believe the 8th represents their best pickup opportunity in Indiana. Oddly enough, the new changes include the addition of Ellsworth's birthplace of Dubois County, which would make it the perfect district for the former Congressman to try to mount a comeback. But Ellsworth has not expressed any interest, privately or publicly, in running for his old seat. He took only 40 percent of the vote in his Senate battle against now-Sen. Dan Coats (R).
Two Democrats have announced bids for the 8th district seat so far: former state Rep. Dave Crooks and attorney Terry White.
9th District Incumbent: Todd Young (R) 1st term (52 percent) Rating: Likely Republican
The 9th district has more often than not featured a competitive race in recent cycles — usually between former Reps. Baron Hill (D) and Mike Sodrel (R), who faced off against each other three times in the past decade.
Indiana Republicans smartly have tried to rectify that in the new Congressional map by adding to the district Morgan and Johnson counties, both of which have traditionally voted GOP. In return, Young gave up some of the competitive counties along the state's southeastern border to the 6th district. Young also conveniently lost the home territory of the candidate who came within 2 points of defeating him in the 2010 primary, Travis Hankins. Hankins is now running for Congress in the 6th district instead.
Not only did this district become less competitive because of the county switches, the geographic changes also made it more difficult for potential challengers. In recent cycles, anyone running a competitive race in the 9th district used to have to buy television spots in Louisville, but now the district's primary media market is the pricier Indianapolis. Any candidate, Democrat or Republican, who runs against Young will have to spend more money to be competitive here than they would have under the old Congressional boundaries. This is also an extra incentive for Democrats to avoid a primary here at all costs because the general election will be more expensive than in previous cycles.
Rep. Bill Cassidy has his blood drawn by Alesha Barbour during a free hepatitis screening in the Rayburn House Office Building hosted by the Congressional Viral Hepatitis Caucus to recognize "National Viral Hepatitis Testing Day."
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