Indiana local trial court judicial elections, 2020
- Main articles: State judicial elections, 2020 and Local trial court judicial elections, 2020
Ballotpedia provides comprehensive coverage of elections in America's 100 largest cities by population. This coverage extends to every office on the ballot for residents of these cities, including local trial court judges. In 2020, Ballotpedia covered the following local elections in this state:
- Indianapolis, Indiana - County treasurer, coroner, surveyor, and superior and circuit court judgeships
- Allen County, Indiana - County commissioner, coroner, county council, surveyor, treasurer, circuit court judge
If the above list includes local trial court judgeships, click the links for more information about the elections. Click here to learn more about how the judges in this state are selected. Ballotpedia did not cover all local trial court judicial elections in this state in 2020. Please consider donating to Ballotpedia to help us expand our coverage of these elections.
Election rules
Primary election
In the primary, most candidates for the trial courts compete in partisan elections.
Exceptions are:
Circuit Courts
- Circuit court candidates in Vanderburgh County run in nonpartisan elections.
Superior Courts
- Superior court candidates in Allen and Vanderburgh counties compete in nonpartisan elections.
- Judges in Lake and St. Joseph counties are appointed by the governor and stand for retention two years into service and at the end of subsequent terms.[1]
Unopposed candidates
If there is no contest for a judicial seat in either the primary or general election, the candidates for that seat are not placed on the primary ballot. Candidates who are unopposed in the primary, however, must still appear on the primary ballot if there is any opposition for the seat by any other party.[2]
Marion County Superior Court
Judges are elected to the Marion County Superior Court under a unique state law enacted in 2006 with the goal of reducing the influence of political parties in the judicial selection process.[3] Under this system, judicial candidates seeking party nomination pay a fee to their party to cover campaign costs. Each party then nominates candidates for half of the open judicial seats in the primary. This judicial selection law ensures that Democrats and Republicans never run against each other in the general election and are represented equally on the bench.[4]
General election
Superior court judges in Lake and St. Joseph counties stand for retention. All other trial court judges compete in contested races.[1][5]
Additional elections
- See also: Indiana elections, 2020
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Five of 92 Indiana counties—5 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.
| Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008 | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County | Trump margin of victory in 2016 | Obama margin of victory in 2012 | Obama margin of victory in 2008 | ||||
| Delaware County, Indiana | 13.43% | 3.12% | 14.98% | ||||
| LaPorte County, Indiana | 6.33% | 12.57% | 22.04% | ||||
| Perry County, Indiana | 18.55% | 11.59% | 22.84% | ||||
| Porter County, Indiana | 6.59% | 3.90% | 7.20% | ||||
| Vigo County, Indiana | 14.97% | 0.86% | 15.83% | ||||
In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Indiana with 56.9 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 37.8 percent. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) was Trump's running mate. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Indiana voted Republican 83.33 percent of the time and Democratic 16.67 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Indiana voted Republican four times and Democratic once when it voted for Barack Obama in 2008.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Indiana. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[6][7]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 28 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 25 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 32.9 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 72 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 25.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 75 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 34.3 points. Trump won six districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections. |
| 2016 Presidential Results by state House District ' | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 74.02% | 24.38% | D+49.6 | 69.13% | 26.57% | D+42.6 | D |
| 2 | 91.24% | 8.20% | D+83 | 86.86% | 10.81% | D+76.1 | D |
| 3 | 85.10% | 14.01% | D+71.1 | 76.56% | 20.48% | D+56.1 | D |
| 4 | 46.94% | 51.38% | R+4.4 | 44.02% | 50.44% | R+6.4 | R |
| 5 | 43.96% | 54.42% | R+10.5 | 42.04% | 52.89% | R+10.8 | R |
| 6 | 65.56% | 32.91% | D+32.6 | 62.43% | 32.71% | D+29.7 | D |
| 7 | 49.21% | 49.37% | R+0.2 | 42.98% | 52.50% | R+9.5 | D |
| 8 | 50.73% | 47.97% | D+2.8 | 48.45% | 46.84% | D+1.6 | D |
| 9 | 60.14% | 37.95% | D+22.2 | 51.04% | 43.89% | D+7.1 | D |
| 10 | 58.94% | 39.04% | D+19.9 | 48.29% | 45.87% | D+2.4 | D |
| 11 | 41.85% | 56.39% | R+14.5 | 32.04% | 62.83% | R+30.8 | R |
| 12 | 53.19% | 45.32% | D+7.9 | 51.20% | 44.04% | D+7.2 | D |
| 13 | 34.43% | 63.03% | R+28.6 | 25.19% | 69.21% | R+44 | R |
| 14 | 83.05% | 16.18% | D+66.9 | 77.49% | 19.96% | D+57.5 | D |
| 15 | 46.17% | 52.52% | R+6.4 | 42.67% | 53.12% | R+10.5 | R |
| 16 | 38.06% | 59.58% | R+21.5 | 24.96% | 70.45% | R+45.5 | R |
| 17 | 33.98% | 64.01% | R+30 | 25.85% | 69.06% | R+43.2 | R |
| 18 | 26.77% | 71.19% | R+44.4 | 20.36% | 74.88% | R+54.5 | R |
| 19 | 47.78% | 50.75% | R+3 | 42.72% | 52.73% | R+10 | R |
| 20 | 47.61% | 50.07% | R+2.5 | 34.89% | 59.54% | R+24.7 | R |
| 21 | 39.78% | 58.56% | R+18.8 | 33.73% | 61.94% | R+28.2 | R |
| 22 | 23.30% | 74.84% | R+51.5 | 19.91% | 75.20% | R+55.3 | R |
| 23 | 36.08% | 61.21% | R+25.1 | 24.21% | 70.73% | R+46.5 | R |
| 24 | 31.59% | 66.93% | R+35.3 | 40.35% | 53.30% | R+13 | R |
| 25 | 36.30% | 61.32% | R+25 | 27.19% | 67.54% | R+40.3 | R |
| 26 | 49.86% | 47.78% | D+2.1 | 50.02% | 43.22% | D+6.8 | R |
| 27 | 51.92% | 45.41% | D+6.5 | 48.64% | 44.84% | D+3.8 | D |
| 28 | 27.16% | 71.07% | R+43.9 | 24.52% | 69.75% | R+45.2 | R |
| 29 | 30.84% | 67.12% | R+36.3 | 32.24% | 61.50% | R+29.3 | R |
| 30 | 44.78% | 52.78% | R+8 | 32.84% | 61.89% | R+29.1 | R |
| 31 | 40.25% | 57.59% | R+17.3 | 28.83% | 66.42% | R+37.6 | R |
| 32 | 31.06% | 66.81% | R+35.7 | 23.91% | 70.93% | R+47 | R |
| 33 | 39.69% | 58.25% | R+18.6 | 25.55% | 69.80% | R+44.2 | R |
| 34 | 61.63% | 35.68% | D+25.9 | 52.44% | 41.78% | D+10.7 | D |
| 35 | 41.75% | 56.04% | R+14.3 | 30.87% | 64.18% | R+33.3 | D |
| 36 | 52.89% | 44.86% | D+8 | 41.75% | 53.32% | R+11.6 | D |
| 37 | 35.26% | 63.23% | R+28 | 40.95% | 53.05% | R+12.1 | R |
| 38 | 33.79% | 64.07% | R+30.3 | 23.90% | 71.40% | R+47.5 | R |
| 39 | 32.92% | 65.53% | R+32.6 | 40.88% | 53.34% | R+12.5 | R |
| 40 | 36.23% | 62.08% | R+25.8 | 35.50% | 58.61% | R+23.1 | R |
| 41 | 29.51% | 67.92% | R+38.4 | 22.67% | 71.80% | R+49.1 | R |
| 42 | 39.22% | 58.41% | R+19.2 | 26.29% | 69.50% | R+43.2 | R |
| 43 | 55.30% | 42.73% | D+12.6 | 45.56% | 49.83% | R+4.3 | D |
| 44 | 31.50% | 66.22% | R+34.7 | 21.02% | 74.48% | R+53.5 | R |
| 45 | 36.84% | 61.06% | R+24.2 | 24.84% | 71.19% | R+46.4 | R |
| 46 | 38.55% | 59.25% | R+20.7 | 31.57% | 63.54% | R+32 | R |
| 47 | 29.10% | 68.87% | R+39.8 | 24.16% | 70.65% | R+46.5 | R |
| 48 | 38.56% | 59.90% | R+21.3 | 32.75% | 62.92% | R+30.2 | R |
| 49 | 33.11% | 65.49% | R+32.4 | 32.54% | 63.39% | R+30.9 | R |
| 50 | 33.14% | 65.13% | R+32 | 27.01% | 68.02% | R+41 | R |
| 51 | 34.00% | 63.93% | R+29.9 | 24.48% | 70.78% | R+46.3 | R |
| 52 | 31.00% | 67.27% | R+36.3 | 24.47% | 70.89% | R+46.4 | R |
| 53 | 30.23% | 67.35% | R+37.1 | 23.85% | 70.13% | R+46.3 | R |
| 54 | 38.63% | 58.47% | R+19.8 | 24.91% | 69.53% | R+44.6 | R |
| 55 | 33.15% | 64.51% | R+31.4 | 22.12% | 73.36% | R+51.2 | R |
| 56 | 42.11% | 55.91% | R+13.8 | 33.19% | 62.25% | R+29.1 | R |
| 57 | 30.69% | 67.09% | R+36.4 | 23.49% | 71.18% | R+47.7 | R |
| 58 | 31.41% | 66.58% | R+35.2 | 27.77% | 66.87% | R+39.1 | R |
| 59 | 37.11% | 60.82% | R+23.7 | 31.83% | 62.16% | R+30.3 | R |
| 60 | 39.41% | 58.45% | R+19 | 34.82% | 60.63% | R+25.8 | R |
| 61 | 69.90% | 27.39% | D+42.5 | 75.00% | 20.08% | D+54.9 | D |
| 62 | 40.31% | 57.59% | R+17.3 | 34.37% | 60.99% | R+26.6 | R |
| 63 | 30.08% | 67.97% | R+37.9 | 22.31% | 72.84% | R+50.5 | R |
| 64 | 32.42% | 65.53% | R+33.1 | 24.93% | 70.82% | R+45.9 | R |
| 65 | 34.17% | 63.45% | R+29.3 | 25.48% | 69.95% | R+44.5 | R |
| 66 | 43.12% | 54.94% | R+11.8 | 30.53% | 65.36% | R+34.8 | D |
| 67 | 33.59% | 63.85% | R+30.3 | 20.50% | 75.70% | R+55.2 | R |
| 68 | 28.25% | 69.83% | R+41.6 | 19.20% | 77.08% | R+57.9 | R |
| 69 | 36.52% | 60.78% | R+24.3 | 22.82% | 72.40% | R+49.6 | R |
| 70 | 36.18% | 61.71% | R+25.5 | 27.10% | 68.70% | R+41.6 | R |
| 71 | 50.92% | 47.20% | D+3.7 | 44.56% | 50.60% | R+6 | D |
| 72 | 42.89% | 55.41% | R+12.5 | 38.96% | 56.02% | R+17.1 | R |
| 73 | 36.02% | 61.42% | R+25.4 | 22.93% | 72.72% | R+49.8 | R |
| 74 | 44.73% | 53.00% | R+8.3 | 31.06% | 63.50% | R+32.4 | R |
| 75 | 37.34% | 60.55% | R+23.2 | 28.95% | 66.32% | R+37.4 | R |
| 76 | 39.60% | 58.59% | R+19 | 32.85% | 62.36% | R+29.5 | R |
| 77 | 57.50% | 40.60% | D+16.9 | 52.56% | 42.87% | D+9.7 | D |
| 78 | 37.34% | 61.05% | R+23.7 | 35.16% | 60.59% | R+25.4 | R |
| 79 | 28.95% | 69.22% | R+40.3 | 21.65% | 73.97% | R+52.3 | R |
| 80 | 78.11% | 20.64% | D+57.5 | 74.22% | 22.20% | D+52 | D |
| 81 | 44.14% | 53.80% | R+9.7 | 40.62% | 53.82% | R+13.2 | R |
| 82 | 30.25% | 67.78% | R+37.5 | 21.96% | 73.57% | R+51.6 | R |
| 83 | 31.27% | 67.18% | R+35.9 | 29.98% | 65.17% | R+35.2 | R |
| 84 | 34.51% | 63.98% | R+29.5 | 33.23% | 62.10% | R+28.9 | R |
| 85 | 31.58% | 66.88% | R+35.3 | 27.71% | 67.59% | R+39.9 | R |
| 86 | 57.98% | 40.35% | D+17.6 | 64.62% | 29.75% | D+34.9 | D |
| 87 | 49.95% | 48.31% | D+1.6 | 55.89% | 38.06% | D+17.8 | D |
| 88 | 34.66% | 63.88% | R+29.2 | 37.37% | 57.03% | R+19.7 | R |
| 89 | 47.75% | 50.14% | R+2.4 | 43.77% | 50.93% | R+7.2 | R |
| 90 | 34.68% | 63.24% | R+28.6 | 32.08% | 62.11% | R+30 | R |
| 91 | 37.73% | 59.66% | R+21.9 | 31.71% | 62.40% | R+30.7 | R |
| 92 | 51.81% | 46.05% | D+5.8 | 49.25% | 45.19% | D+4.1 | D |
| 93 | 34.28% | 63.70% | R+29.4 | 32.89% | 61.93% | R+29 | R |
| 94 | 82.54% | 16.46% | D+66.1 | 82.29% | 14.31% | D+68 | D |
| 95 | 77.93% | 21.08% | D+56.8 | 75.26% | 21.28% | D+54 | D |
| 96 | 84.99% | 13.71% | D+71.3 | 83.70% | 12.01% | D+71.7 | D |
| 97 | 53.11% | 44.02% | D+9.1 | 48.46% | 45.17% | D+3.3 | D |
| 98 | 82.27% | 16.60% | D+65.7 | 78.54% | 18.32% | D+60.2 | D |
| 99 | 83.25% | 15.77% | D+67.5 | 80.80% | 15.76% | D+65 | D |
| 100 | 61.83% | 35.60% | D+26.2 | 59.68% | 34.20% | D+25.5 | D |
| Total | 43.94% | 54.15% | R+10.2 | 37.92% | 57.16% | R+19.2 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
| Local courts | Indiana | Other local coverage |
|---|---|---|
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Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 American Judicature Society, "Judicial Selection in the States: Indiana; Overview," archived January 11, 2014
- ↑ Indiana General Assembly, "Indiana Code, Title 3, Article 10, Chapter 1, Section 5(a)," accessed March 21, 2014
- ↑ Indiana Election Division, "2014 Indiana Candidate Guide," October 15, 2013
- ↑ The Indy Star, "2 Democrats sue for voter records in bid for judges' seats," April 29, 2014
- ↑ American Judicature Society, "Methods of Judicial Selection: Indiana," archived October 2, 2014
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
Federal courts:
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals • U.S. District Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana • U.S. Bankruptcy Court: Northern District of Indiana, Southern District of Indiana
State courts:
Indiana Supreme Court • Indiana Court of Appeals • Indiana Tax Court • Indiana Superior Courts • Indiana Circuit Courts • Indiana City Courts • Indiana County Courts • Indiana Municipal Courts • Indiana Small Claims Courts • St. Joseph County Probate Court • Indiana Town Courts
State resources:
Courts in Indiana • Indiana judicial elections • Judicial selection in Indiana
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