Republican congressman Todd Young kept an open Senate seat in GOP hands Tuesday by defeating a promising Democratic recruit in Evan Bayh, a former senator who’d sought his old job after leaving Capitol Hill six years ago.
Networks called the race for Mr. Young about an hour and half after the final polls closed.
Mr. Bayh, who served two Senate terms before deciding not to run again in 2010, dented the GOP’s hopes of preserving its 54-46 chamber majority in July, when he suddenly hopped into the race for the seat held by retiring Sen. Dan Coats, a Republican.
Yet Mr. Bayh faced constant questions about whether he still lived Indiana — or spent much time there at all — after leaving Capitol Hill six years ago, and even more questions about his work as a consultant for a lobbying firm.
The stream of negative stories produced a remarkable bounce for Mr. Young, who was first elected to Congress in 2010.
Along the campaign trail, Mr. Young emphasized his service in the Marine Corps and opposition to Obamacare, which Mr. Bayh had voted for during his second term.
Polls leading up to Election Day had suggested the race was either a dead heat or tilted slightly in Mr. Young’s favor.
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
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