Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District (Southern Indiana)
2016: Clinton 34–Trump 61
2012: Obama 40–Romney 57
2008: Obama 46–McCain 53
In the Middle Ages wealthy nobles would send their failsons to die in Crusades. Now they send them to Congress. Representative Trey Hollingsworth grew up the son of an industrial magnate in Tennessee. His old man sent him to the finest schools but, as far as we can tell, Trey accomplished little in his business career. So Pappa Hollingworth sent him to live two states away in a vacant congressional seat, pinned $500,000 to his jacket, and told him good luck. Hollingworth won his first term with only 54 percent of the vote even as Trump cruised here.
Two Democrats think Hollingworth may still be vulnerable, even though by Election Day 2018 he’ll have lived in Indiana for two whole years. Civil rights lawyer Dan Canon and IU professor Liz Watson are both running for the nomination here. Canon’s made a lot of waves for taking some bold stances on legalizing marijuana and abolishing ICE, while Watson’s running a more traditional campaign. Democrats have two good candidates here, but I really want to see if Canon’s found the blueprint for winning as a progressive in areas that have trended Republican.