Democrats take control

INDIANAPOLIS - Democrats secured a majority with at least 51 seats in the Indiana House on Tuesday, winning key races that included House District 69, where David Cheatham of North Vernon unseated incumbent Billy Bright, a first-term Republican.

Unofficial totals show that Democrats unseated three other Republicans as well: Reps. Troy Woodruff in Vincennes, John Smith in Kokomo and Steve Heim in Culver.

But the Democrats also appear to have lost one of their own in Indianapolis, where unofficial but still incomplete totals showed Rep. Ed Mahern narrowly losing to Republican Jon Elrod.

Two other House races also remained close. Unofficial results show incumbent Rep. Tim Harris, R-Marion, topped Democrat Larry Hile, but the margin was just 16 votes.

Also, incumbent Don Lehe, R-Brookston, beat Democrat Myron Sutton, but by only 26 votes, according to unofficial results.

Some of those races might be recounted.

In Southern Indiana, Democrat Steve Stemler of Jeffersonville won in House District 71, and Reps. Bill Cochran, D-New Albany, Paul Robertson, D-Depauw, and Jerry Denbo, D-French Lick, won contests that were not close.

“It was a tidal wave out there” for Democrats, Bright said last night. “But I gave it all I had. That was all I could do.”

Read more on the state house races at the Courier - Journal online.