Indiana Republican wins race to replace Todd Young

Republican Trey Hollingsworth is projected to win Tuesday in Indiana’s tightly contested race to replace Rep. Todd Young (R).

Hollingsworth’s victory over local County Councilmember Shelli Yoder helps protect the House GOP’s solid majority and prevents Democrats from picking up a seat.

{mosads}The multi-millionaire businessman had faced a tighter-than-expected battle against Yoder, a former Miss Indiana winner who also fought to represent the 9th District in 2012.

The seat was left open when Young ran for Senate after the retirement of Sen. Dan Coats (R). Young is projected to have defeated Democrat Evan Bayh in his Senate race.

The 9th District is reliably conservative, but this year’s race has narrowed throughout the fall. Yoder recently released internal polling that showed her and Hollingsworth in a dead-even tie with 43 percent each.

Hollingsworth had struggled to maintain a lead in the race. He faced attacks that he was a “carpetbagger” whose family was funding his campaign. He moved to the state from Tennessee about one month before he entered the race in 2015.

The first-time GOP candidate had already survived a tight, five-way primary battle.