Indiana results for every midterm race

Indiana loves President Trump.

It’s a reality that’s made Sen. Joe Donnelly — a moderate, anti-abortion Democrat who has remained relatively popular in the state — one of the most vulnerable candidates in the 2018 elections. It’s an important race in a year when Democrats are defending a lot of Senate seats in states that Trump won.

For the past year, Donnelly has been making a concerted effort to steer clear of criticizing Trump, and emphasizing his desire to work across the aisle. He voted for Trump’s cabinet nominees early on, breaking with the party to endorse conservative Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch. Ultimately, he voted against Brett Kavanaugh’s contentious nomination — something another red-state Democrat, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, acknowledged could cost her reelection.

Republican entrepreneur and former state lawmaker Mike Braun beat out two established political names — Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer — for the chance to unseat Donnelly. Donnelly’s biggest liability is no secret, and Republicans know it: He has “D” for Democrat by his name.

Democrats looking to regain the House majority will find little luck here: Only one seat, held by Rep. Trey Hollingsworth in the Ninth Congressional District, is on Democrats’ Red to Blue list.

Republicans hold large majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. That isn’t expected to change much when all of the state House of Representatives and half the state Senate is on the ballot this year. It makes sense in a state where Trump’s approval numbers remain strong.