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Indiana: Joe Donnelly Defeats Richard Mourdock

Rep. Joe Donnelly won the Indiana Senate seat tonight. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)
Rep. Joe Donnelly won the Indiana Senate seat tonight. (Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call File Photo)

Rep. Joe Donnelly (D) has defeated state Treasurer Richard Mourdock (R) tonight, handing Senate Democrats another pickup, according to the Associated Press.

Until recently, Republicans believed they would keep the Indiana seat given the Hoosier State’s strong GOP base. But Democrats spent early and often to boost Donnelly, and polls showed a tied race by Labor Day.

Then, a couple of weeks ago, Mourdock made a political mistake that might have cost Republicans this seat. In his final debate with Donnelly, Mourdock said he believed pregnancy resulting from rape is something “God intended.”

Democrats pounced on Mourdock’s words. As of last week, polling gave Donnelly a strong lead.

The Democratic nominee’s lead stuck with him through Election Day. He’s leading Mourdock by 2.5 points, with 67 percent of precincts reporting, according to the Associated Press.

Mourdock ousted Sen. Dick Lugar (R) in the GOP primary last May. Conservative groups, including the Club for Growth, rallied to Mourdock’s side to help him defeat the six-term Senator.

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