Republican Trey Hollingsworth will represent Indiana's 9th District in Congress after a heated race against Democrat Shelli Yoder. Hollingsworth has 54 percent of the vote over Yoder's 40 percent with 99 percent of polls reporting. Libertarian Russell Brooksbank has 5 percent of the vote.
Hollingsworth says he ran for Congress because he's tired of seeing the lack of action in Washington from career politicians.
"People are tired of the same old same old and I want to be committed to getting that change that they want and demand, and I think today demanded," Hollingsworth says.
The race for Republican Todd Young's vacant seat was contentious from the beginning. Democrats dubbed Hollingsworth "Tennessee Trey" because he only moved to the state last year. But Hollingsworth stood out during the crowded GOP primary in May, beating out then-Attorney General Greg Zoeller and two state senators. Hollingsworth touted his business experience and status as a political outsider during his campaign.
Just before the General Election an Associated Press report revealed Hollingsworth signed paperwork requiring him to live in several different states where he does business. Indiana wasn't among them. Hollingsworth says the filings were the result of a clerical error. The controversy ultimately didn't do much damage to his campaign.
"I've been building businesses here for the past 11 years," Hollingsworth says. "What I understood today to be about was that the question of residency has been settled. This is a matter of experience, this is a matter of track record. And people want somebody who's created jobs, who's created opportunities right here in Indiana."
Yoder ran unsuccessfully against Republican Todd Young in 2012 and hoped Young's bid for U.S. Senate would give Democrats an opportunity to regain control of the 9th District. She says she's disappointed in Tuesday's outcome.
"We really enjoyed this race, my goodness," Yoder says. "I think that when you come together and you believe, you give so much of your time, so much of your energy, everyone's tired and you see at the end that the loss is really tough."
