These five Indiana House candidates raised the most money and lost their primary


General elections for all 100 seats in the Indiana House of Representatives will take place on November 8, 2022. State house primary elections were held on May 3, 2022. Republicans hold a 71-29 majority heading into the election.

This article details the five candidates in each party who raised the most money and lost their primary election. In the 2022 election cycle, 41 of 85 Republican primaries and five of 57 Democratic primaries were contested. The losing candidates are shown along with the percentage of the vote they received compared to the primary winner. In cases where the race was pushed to a runoff, vote percentages for both advancing candidates are included.

Top fundraisers with unsuccessful primary campaigns this cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the Indiana Secretary of State covering the period of January 1, 2021, through April 8, 2022.

The Democratic candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary were:

  • Melissa Rinehart – $12,720 – District 82 (Lost primary 36% – 49%)
  • Brad Swain – $2,477 – District 62 (Lost primary 32% – 68%)
  • Kathy Zoucha – $1,194 – District 82 (Lost primary 15% – 49%)
  • Jestin Coler – $330 – District 51 (Lost primary 32% – 68%)
  • Craig Hirsty – $168 – District 88 (Lost primary 11% – 89%)

The Republican candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary were:

  • Daniel Leonard – $246,415 – District 50 (Lost primary 43% – 57%)
  • Matthew Whetstone – $148,551 – District 25 (Lost primary 26% – 39%)
  • Bryan Washburn – $64,633 – District 16 (Lost primary 33% – 49%)
  • Curt Nisly – $58,737 – District 22 (Lost primary 27% – 73%)
  • Bob Carmony – $50,496 – District 73 (Lost primary 33% – 57%)

Top fundraisers with unsuccessful primary campaigns last cycle

This information comes from candidate reports to the Indiana Secretary of State covering the period of January 1, 2019, through December 31, 2020.

The Democratic candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary in 2020 were:

  • Garrett Blad – $61,145 – District 6 (Lost primary 40% – 45%)
  • Anthony Higgs – $22,488 – District 1 (Lost primary 27% – 73%)
  • Mark Hinton – $14,600 – District 39 (Lost primary 30% – 70%)
  • Drew Duncan – $11,263 – District 6 (Lost primary 16% – 45%)
  • Cynthia Wirth – $10,285 – District 59 (Lost primary 45% – 55%)

The Republican candidates who raised the most money and lost their primary in 2020 were:

  • Leah McGrath – $153,400 – District 88 (Lost primary 43% – 57%)
  • Dollyne Sherman – $97,789 – District 93 (Lost primary 49% – 51%)
  • John Stoffel – $75,646 – District 50 (Lost primary 46% – 54%)
  • Bill Dixon – $41,300 – District 22 (Lost primary 41% – 59%)
  • J. David Hopper – $30,219 – District 58 (Lost primary 13% – 43%)

The data above are based on campaign finance reports that active Indiana PACs submitted to the Indiana Secretary of State. Federal PACs are not required to report to state agencies. Transparency USA publishes campaign finance data following major reporting deadlines. State or federal law may require filers to submit additional reports.

Report Name Report Due Date
2022 Jan Semiannual 1/19/2022
2022 Statewide Quarterly/Semiannual 7/15/2022
2022 Pre-Election 10/17/2022
2022 Statewide Quarterly 11/1/2022
2022 Annual Report 1/18/2023

This article is a joint publication from Ballotpedia and Transparency USA, who are working together to provide campaign finance information for state-level elections. Learn more about our work here.