Today, the non-partisan election forecaster Sabato’s Crystal Ball shifted the open seat in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District from “Lean Republican” to “Toss Up.” In changing the rating, Sabato’s Kyle Kondik notes the district’s changing demographics – including former Senator Donnelly winning the district – as well as the “nasty” Republican primary from which Victoria Spartz emerged.
“Christina Hale’s record of working across the aisle to solve problems that impact Hoosier families will win the day in this Democratic-trending district,” said DCCC Spokesperson Courtney Rice. “Republicans didn’t get their first, second, or third choice candidate and extremist Victoria Spartz’s emergence from a bruising primary, coupled with Spartz’s shady business ties, make this seat a prime pickup opportunity in November.”
Another one of the shocking Democratic polls, released earlier this week, was in the open seat IN-5, held by retiring Rep. Susan Brooks (R). This is another high-education suburban seat that contains suburbs and small-town areas north of Indianapolis. […]
Trump carried the district 52%-41% in 2016, down from Romney’s 58%-41% victory in 2012. Two years later, Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN) very narrowly carried the district even as he was losing to now-Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) statewide. Christina Hale (D), a former state legislator who was the Democrats’ 2016 lieutenant gubernatorial nominee, will face state Sen. Victoria Spartz (R), who won a fairly nasty primary a few weeks ago. The Democrats had Biden up an eye-popping 10 points in the district, and had Hale leading 51%-45%. […] IN-5 moves from Leans Republican to Toss-up.
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