U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky, D-1st, will defend his congressional seat in the fall against Republican Mark Leyva.

Visclosky ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket.

Leyva—who has run unsuccessfully against Visclosky in every election since 2002—garnered 6,383 votes district-wide or 25 percent of the total in a crowded Republican race, according to the Associated Press.

Following Leyva was Peter Lindemulder III, with 5,781 votes or 22 percent. Then Eric Olson, with 3,481 votes or 13 percent; Robert Pastore, with 3,467 votes or 13 percent; Adam Dombkowski, with 3,317 votes or 13 percent; Ric Holtz, with 1,504 votes or 6 percent; Jayson Reeves, with 1,193 votes or 5 percent; and finally Michael Petyo, with 754 votes or 3 percent.

In Porter County Leyva took 1,299 votes or 19.46 percent. In second place was Dombkowski, with 1,273 votes or 19.07 percent.

Leyva is a carpenter and former steelworker.

U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly, D-2nd, on the other hand, will defend his congressional seat in the general election against Republican Jackie Walorski.

Donnelly—whose district includes Pine and Jackson townships in Duneland—ran unopposed.

Walorski garnered 29,074 votes district-wide or 61 percent of the total, also in a crowded Republican ticket, the AP is reporting.

Following Walorski was Jack Jordan, with 13,567 votes or 28 percent. Then Martin Dolan, with 3,760 votes or 8 percent; and finally Tony Zirkle, with 1,414 votes or 3 percent.

In Porter County Walorski took 275 votes or 47 percent. In second place was Jordan, with 188 votes or 32 percent.

Meanwhile, State Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary, easily beat challenger Bryan K. Bullock, a Merrillville attorney.

Brown garnered 3,813 votes district-wide or 64 percent to Bullock’s 2,111 votes or 36 percent, according to the AP. Bullock did slightly better in Porter County, where he took 391 votes or 41 percent to Brown’s 558 votes or 59 percent.

No Republican candidate has filed for the 3rd District seat.

Dan Coats won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senator, taking 217,056 votes state-wide or 39 percent of the vote with 99 percent of the vote counted, the AP reported.

In a crowded Democratic field Martin A. Stutzman took second with 160,929 votes or 29 percent.

In Porter County Coats garnered 3,384 votes or 44 percent, while fellow Democrat John Hostettler finished second with 2,369 votes or 31 percent.

The Senate seat is currently open, with incumbent Democrat Evan Bayh’s announcement earlier this year that he is retiring.

No Democrat candidate has currently filed for the seat.

Posted 5/5/2010