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Donnelly Defeats Mourdock for Indiana Senate Seat

Democratic Rep. Joe Donnelly is touting his victory over Republican state Treasurer Richard Mourdock in the Indiana Senate race as a score for moderation. The two were seeking to replace longtime Sen. Dick Lugar, whom Mourdock toppled in a nasty GOP primary. But Lugar did not campaign for Mourdock, and the candidate struggled to gain traction among independents. Two weeks before the election, Mourdock made controversial comments about rape,which brought national attention to the race.  Donnelly said his victory demonstrates that Hoosier values trump partisanship and party politics. “We have a tradition in Indiana in the United States Senate, and that tradition are people like Richard Lugar and Evan Bayh who work together, whose only focus is on what’s right for our country,” Donnelly said. Donnelly’s victory is a pickup for Democrats, who were vying to hold on to the Senate in this year’s election. Donnelly is the first Democrat to win statewide office in Indiana since former Senator Evan Bayh in 2004. Democratic Senator-elect Joe Donnelly of Indiana said his victory over Richard Mourdock shows moderation beats partisanship in the minds of voters. Donnelly will replace outgoing Sen. Dick Lugar, whom Mourdock defeated in a tough GOP primary battle. But since then, Mourdock struggled to gain traction among independents and his campaign was embroiled in controversy after he said pregnancies resulting from rape were the will of God.  Donnelly said Lugar's tenure showed Hoosiers respect moderation, and he will be a Senator for all residents. “And to everyone out there, I’m not going there as one party’s senator or the other part’s senator. I’m going there as your senator to work for your family. I’m the hired help and I can’t wait to get to work,” he said. Donnelly is the first Democrat to win statewide office in Indiana since former U.S. Senator Evan Bayh in 2004.