2022 election results: Who won Indiana statehouse races

Indiana Republicans appeared to maintain a strong grip on both the House and Senate after elections Tuesday.

Democrats hoped to cut into the Republican supermajority, especially in suburban areas covering northern Marion, Hamilton and Boone counties. The party pushed campaign messaging surrounding abortion rights after the passage of the state’s near-total abortion ban this summer.

Many closely watched suburban races remained too close to call as of Wednesday morning, according to results from The Associated Press.

Incumbent Kyle Walker earned a major Republican victory in Senate District 31 after he achieved a nearly 11-point win over Democratic challenger Jocelyn Vare, according to the AP's results. He raised just over $1 million in his bid for reelection in one of the more closely watched races leading up to Election Day.

Indiana election results:Check out the latest results as they come in

Democrats flipped a Senate seat with Andrea Hunley in Senate District 46, claiming victory Tuesday evening over Republican Evan Shearin.

Hunley said at the Democratic election party in downtown Indianapolis that she was proud to stand among Democrats who worked hard during the election cycle and to connect with communities across Indiana.

“Our party showed up to listen,” she said, adding that the party is building momentum.

“It’s not just about 2022. It is about beyond this moment into the future, and onto the next cycle and the cycle after that because our democracy depends on it.”

Here are results from races we have been watching:

Senate District 31: Republican Kyle Walker easily keeps his seat

Walker won reelection to Senate District 31, according to The Associated Press. With 97.9% of the vote counted, Walker won 55.5% to Democratic challenger Vare's 44.5%, according to AP results.

Vare, a Fishers at-large city councilor, ran against Walker in the race for Senate District 31.

Walker, of Lawrence, was elected via Republican caucus to Senate District 31 in 2020.

“Tonight’s victory is further evidence that the voters of this district want commonsense leadership that produces results. In the Senate, I will stay laser focused on the issues that matter, strengthening our economy, improving public safety and investing in quality of life to keep our communities thriving,” Walker said in a statement. “I’m grateful to everyone who helped us deliver our message to earn the support of voters across the district.”

Walker in October said he has been proud of bills he has championed while in office, including a bill that allowed governments to enter into public-private partnerships for transportation projects, a bill that established a fund for sports tourism, a bill that establishes standards for electronic monitoring of offenders and a bill that created a fund to pay for car insurance for foster children.

Walker voted against Senate Bill 1 during the legislature's special session over the summer. He shared his less-restrictive position on abortion rights publicly in July. He said in October he did not believe his vote or position would impact the election.

Walker said if reelected he would continue to work on issues impacting public safety, economic development and foster children.

Vare campaigned on repealing Senate Bill 1, the state's near-total abortion ban, and the permitless carry bill, which allows people to legally carry a handgun without a license. She said she would also support more money for public schools and teachers.

Senate District 29: Democrat J.D. Ford wins reelection

Democratic incumbent J.D. Ford won reelection to Senate District 29, according to The Associated Press. Ford defeated Republican physician Alex Choi, 51.5% to 48.5%, with 99% of the vote counted, according to the AP results. Senate District 29 overlaps Boone Hamilton and Marion counties, according to AP results.

Senator J.D. Ford, the Democratic minority caucus chair, said he ran for reelection to continue his work in the Senate since his election in 2018.

Ford said he has passed more than 70 bills in that time, working with both Democrats and Republicans. He said he is proud of efforts in the Senate's education committee during the 2022 legislative session that stopped House Bill 1134, which would have prohibited certain concepts in schools and given parents more control over classroom instruction and activities.

Ford voted against Senate Bill 1, the state's near-total abortion ban, and said it should be repealed. The state also needs to improve access to contraceptives and comprehensive sexual education, he said.

Choi serves as an at-large member of the Zionsville Town Council and is the chief of anesthesia for IU Health's suburban hospitals and surgery centers.

Choi said he ran for office to help contribute to policies that make "a healthier Indiana."

Choi said he is in favor of abortion rights and said deciding whether or not to have an abortion should remain between a woman and her doctor.

"I feel very strongly that this is not an area where the government really should get involved," Choi told IndyStar in October.

If elected, Choi said, he wanted to help form policies around improving mental health access in the state and policies tied to family planning, such as access to contraceptives.

House District 32: Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn claims victory

Democrat Victoria Garcia Wilburn claimed victory in the race for House District 32, a new seat without an incumbent, although as of Wednesday afternoon The Associated Press had yet to officially call the race.

Wilburn led Republican Fred Glynn 50.5% to 49.5% with 99% of the estimated vote counted, according to AP results. The district covers Hamilton and northern Marion counties.

"Thank you to every single volunteer, donor, friend & family member who helped us win this grassroots campaign for Hoosiers by Hoosiers," Garcia Wilburn wrote on Twitter Wednesday.

A call to Glynn Wednesday afternoon was not immediately returned.

Garcia Wilburn of Indianapolis is an assistant professor of occupational therapy at IUPUI. Garcia Wilburn, who is a Latina, said she believes more diverse perspectives are needed at the statehouse.

If elected, Garcia Wilburn said she would want to work on policies to bring better mental health access and environmental standards to Indiana.

Garcia Wilburn also said Indiana's near-total abortion ban is a "complete overstep of regulation."

Glynn, of Carmel, is a two-time Hamilton County councilor and a one-time Carmel mayoral candidate.

Glynn won a close race in the Republican primary earlier this year against former Trump administration official Suzie Jaworowski.

While serving on the Hamilton County Council, Glynn said he has seen the county establish low tax rates, achieve a AAA bond rating and purchase land for the county's first domestic violence shelter.

If elected, Glynn said he would want to focus on policies to improve public safety, education and property tax rates.

In October, Glynn did not answer questions about his position on abortion rights or Senate Bill 1. He drew attention from Democrats over the summer for allegedly removing language from his campaign website that said life begins at conception.

House District 39: Republican incumbent Jerry Torr wins reelection

Longtime Republican legislator Jerry Torr defeated Democratic challenger Matt McNally 52.4% to 47.6% with 99% of the estimated vote counted, according to AP results.

Torr, of Carmel, was first elected to the Indiana statehouse in 1996. He said his accomplishments in the last 26 years include a bill that put Indiana on Daylight Savings Time and a bill that made Indiana a right-to-work state.

Torr said he voted to pass Senate Bill 1 over the summer after listening to constituents and committee testimony in the House and Senate.

Torr said he will continue to work on issues tied to crime and lowering property tax rates.

McNally, who served in the military for 22 years, said he ran for office because he was driven by public service.

Other Statehouse races

Republicans saw successes in other competitive Statehouse races across Indiana on Tuesday.

Republican incumbent Donna Schaibley won reelection to Indiana's House District 24 on Tuesday, defeating Democratic challenger Joellyn Mayer and Independent candidate Kenneth Tucker with 56.6% of the vote to Mayer's 40.8% and Tucker's 2.5%, according to AP results.

In the race for House District 25, Republican Becky Cash defeated Democrat Jen Bass-Patino 52.7% to 47.3% with 99% of the estimated vote counted, according to AP results.

In the House District 62 race, which includes Bloomington, Republican Dave Hall defeated Democrat Penny Githens 52.7% to 47.3% with 99% of the estimated vote counted, according to AP results.

In the race for Senate District 1, Republican Daniel Dernulc was declared the winner over incumbent Michael Griffin with 52.3% to 47.7% with 99% of the estimated vote counted, according to AP results. Senate District 1 includes Lake County.

In the House District 82 race, which includes Fort Wayne, Democrat Kyle Miller defeated Republican Davyd Jones with 55.9% to 44.1% with 99% of the vote counted, according to AP results.

In the race for Senate District 4, Democratic incumbent Rodney Pol won with 53% of the vote to Republican Jeff Larson’s 47% with 99% of estimated vote counted, according to AP results.

Three state House races had yet to be called by AP on Wednesday afternoon with an estimated 99% of the vote counted:

In the race for House District 89, Democratic incumbent Mitch Gore is leading Republican Michael-Paul Hart 50.8% to 49.2%.

Republican challenger Kyle Pierce is leading Democratic incumbent Terri Austin 51% to 49% in the race for House District 36.

Republican challenger Scott Hawkins is leading Democratic incumbent Rita Fleming 50.1% to 49.9% in the race for House District 71.

IndyStar reporter Alex Burris contributed to this story.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Election 2022: Results from Indiana statehouse races