INDIANA
Incumbent: Democrat Joe Donnelly Inside Elections rating: Tossup 2016 presidential election results: Trump: 57%, Clinton: 38%
A crowded field of Republicans vies for the opportunity to take him on. Early attacks between the top GOP candidates — Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer — have been unusually personal.
Republicans are united in their argument that, despite Donnelly’s moderate record, he votes with fellow Democrats when it matters most. They have an opening to define Donnelly on their terms because there are many Hoosiers still getting to know the freshman senator, despite his frequent travels around the state.
Cultivating an image of a low-key, keep-your-head-down-and-work-hard lawmaker has meant avoiding the spotlight, particularly on controversial or highly partisan issues. Donnelly has focused on agriculture, national defense and veterans’ issues.
The spotlight on veterans, as well as Donnelly’s emphasis on workers and jobs, may help him with the blue-collar voters who flocked to Trump last year.
While appealing to Trump voters — whom Donnelly says were “originally Joe Donnelly supporters” — he will have to keep liberal Democrats excited about turning out to vote for him.