Indiana election results: 1st District stays in Democratic hands
Republicans' hopes of picking up a longtime Democratic stronghold in northwest Indiana ended late Tuesday as Air Force veteran Jennifer-Ruth Green conceded defeat to incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan.
“I congratulate Congressman Mrvan on his victory tonight, but he is on notice," Green said in a statement. "In two years, we will have another chance to build on tonight’s success and restore common sense leadership. The days of Republicans not contesting this seat are over.”
As of Wednesday morning, Mrvan led Green 53% to 47% with 96% of precincts reporting in the 1st House District race. The candidates remain by about 12,000 votes.
The race had garnered national attention as a potential flip.
Green challenged northwest Indiana's historically blue voting record by winning LaPorte and Porter counties and edging out Mrvan by a couple thousands votes in both, pointing out a clear shift in the district’s voting record.
National political analysts presented the 1st District as ripe for the taking. Republicans showed the district could be more competitive as returns came in on Election night, but not enough for a win.
The race was projected by Sabato’s Crystal Ball and the Cook Political Report to be a toss up this election cycle.
Crystal Ball, however, changed the district to "leans Democratic " in its final ratings, released Monday. The Cook Political Report did not alter its rating in the race.
Indiana's 1st District, which spans Lake and Porter counties and part of LaPorte, was redrawn by Republicans after the 2020 Census.
Major cities in the district have seen population changes in recent yearsas steel manufacturing has declined, including in Gary, where population dropped to about 69,000 people.
The 1st District race was an opportunity for Republicans in the state to take another congressional seat. Republicans won all but two of the state’s congressional districts Tuesday.
Green aligned her campaign closely with Trump Republicans. As money rolled in, Green’s campaign showed promise by out fundraising Mrvan in the third quarter with many individual donors.
In her concession statement, Green highlighted how her campaign changed the mold for the 1st District, forcing people to acknowledge its triumphs.
"After 18 months of campaigning, no one is doubting us now," Green said in a statement. "Nothing worth doing is ever easy and changing a district that has voted one way for nearly a century doesn’t happen overnight. This is just the beginning not the end.”
Mrvan, a longtime resident of Northwest Indiana, supported the American Rescue Plan and infrastructure bills in his freshman term.
2022 Indiana Election Results:Get live results as they come in
Northwest Indiana is struggling economically, like most regions in the country, with President Biden and Democrats receiving much of the blame for inflation. The 1st District was no different as Green called out Mrvan for his support of Biden’s economic policies.
But Mrvan still came away with the victory although this race showed a shift in voting patterns of the last several decades, more voters cast a ballot for a Republican.
“Congressman Mrvan has been a steadfast voice for protecting the rights of organized workers,” Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney said in a statement. “His victory tonight ensures that working families in northwest Indiana will continue to have a fierce advocate in Congress.”
Rachel Fradette is a general assignment reporter at IndyStar. Contact her at rfradette@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter at @Rachel_Fradette.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana's 1st US House District: Democrat Frank Mvran wins
