The Hoosier State has been touted as one the first bellwether regions that will help determine who will ultimately have control of the U.S. House after tonight’s elections. So some of the first news out of the gate tonight from Indiana doesn’t look so encouraging for social conservatives: Twelve-year congressman John Hostettler—a dedicated pro-lifer and opponent of gay marriage—has lost his House seat (for Indiana District 8).
Poll results show that his opponent, Democrat Brad Ellsworth, a county sheriff, is winning with at least 62 percent of the vote. Ellsworth has successfully posited himself as conservative on everything from “family values” to the War on Terror—and is said by political pundits to have run a much better grassroots campaign than Hostettler.
One thing that may have confused voters: Local newspapers reported that Ellsworth opposes gay marriage, but isn’t opposed to inheritance and hospital visitation rights for homosexuals (which conservatives argue they already have.)
