Closest U.S. Senate elections in Indiana
The closest U.S. Senate election in Indiana history was in 1970, a margin of 0.24 points. Vance Hartke beat Richard L. Roudebush, 870,990 to 866,707. Next closest are 1938 (0.33 points) and 1962 (0.60 points).
Every state is ranked together on Closest U.S. Senate elections in history. For every Senate race Indiana has held, special elections included, see the Indiana U.S. Senate hub.
What is the closest Senate race in Indiana history?
The Indiana Senate election decided by the narrowest margin was in 1970, 0.24 points. Vance Hartke beat Richard L. Roudebush, 870,990 to 866,707. The next closest were 1938 (0.33 points) and 1962 (0.60 points).
How is the margin measured?
As the gap in vote share between the first and second-place finishers, from the certified general-election count. It is not adjusted for recounts, runoffs or later court rulings; the figure is the result as certified.
Does this include special elections?
No. These are the regular general elections for Indiana’s two Senate seats. Special elections to fill a vacancy appear on the Indiana Senate hub, which lists every race including specials, and in a few states one of those is closer than anything here.
Why does the list start in 1914?
Because senators were chosen by state legislatures before the Seventeenth Amendment. 1914 is the first cycle of the popular-vote era for the Senate, so it is the first Indiana election with a popular margin to measure.
| # | Election | Result | Votes | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1970 | Vance Hartke D def. Richard L. Roudebush R | 870,990 – 866,707 | 0.24 points |
| 2 | 1938 | Frederick Van Nuys D def. Raymond E. Willis R | 788,386 – 783,189 | 0.33 points |
| 3 | 1962 | Birch Bayh D def. Homer E. Capehart R | 905,491 – 894,547 | 0.60 points |
| 4 | 1926 | James G. Watson R def. Albert Stump D | 522,837 – 511,454 | 1.1 points |
| 5 | 1940 | Raymond E. Willis R def. Sherman Minton D | 888,070 – 864,803 | 1.3 points |
| 6 | 1944 | Homer E. Capehart R def. Henry F. Schricker D | 829,489 – 807,766 | 1.3 points |
| 7 | 1916 | Harry S. New R def. John W. Kern D | 337,089 – 325,588 | 1.6 points |
| 8 | 1922 | Samuel M. Ralston D def. Albert J. Beveridge R | 558,169 – 524,558 | 3.1 points |
| 9 | 1966 | Birch Bayh D def. William D. Ruckelshaus R | 1,060,456 – 988,571 | 3.5 points |
| 10 | 1934 | Sherman Minton D def. Arthur R. Robinson R | 758,801 – 700,103 | 4.0 points |
| 11 | 1974 | Birch Bayh D def. Richard G. Lugar R | 889,269 – 814,117 | 4.3 points |
| 12 | 1952 | William E. Jenner R def. Henry F. Schricker D | 1,020,605 – 911,169 | 5.6 points |
| 13 | 2012 | Joe Donnelly D def. Richard E. Mourdock R | 1,281,181 – 1,133,621 | 5.8 points |
| 14 | 2018 | Mike Braun R def. Joe Donnelly D | 1,158,000 – 1,023,553 | 5.9 points |
| 15 | 1950 | Homer E. Capehart R def. Alex M. Campbell D | 844,303 – 741,025 | 6.5 points |
| 16 | 1914 | Benjamin F. Shively D def. J. Ralston Miller R | 272,249 – 226,766 | 7.0 points |
| 17 | 1980 | Dan Quayle R def. Birch Bayh D | 1,182,414 – 1,015,962 | 7.6 points |
| 18 | 1982 | Richard G. Lugar R def. Floyd J. Fithian D | 978,301 – 828,400 | 8.3 points |
| 19 | 1964 | Vance Hartke D def. D. Russell Bontrager R | 1,128,505 – 941,519 | 9.0 points |
| 20 | 2016 | Todd C. Young R def. Evan Bayh D | 1,423,991 – 1,158,947 | 9.7 points |
| 21 | 1956 | Homer E. Capehart R def. Claude R. Wickard D | 1,084,262 – 871,781 | 10.8 points |
| 22 | 1928 | Arthur R. Robinson R def. Albert Stump D | 782,144 – 623,996 | 11.2 points |
| 23 | 1946 | William E. Jenner R def. M. Clifford Townsend D | 739,809 – 584,288 | 11.5 points |
| 24 | 1932 | Frederick Van Nuys D def. James G. Watson R | 870,053 – 661,750 | 13.3 points |
| 25 | 1920 | James G. Watson R def. Thomas Taggart D | 681,854 – 514,191 | 13.4 points |