# Indiana's 8th congressional district

Indiana's 8th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in southwest and west central Indiana, the district is anchored in Evansville and also includes Jasper, Princeton, Terre Haute, Vincennes, and Washington.
Previously referred to as "The Bloody Eighth" at the local (and sometimes national) levels (see below for explanation), it was formerly a notorious swing district. However, due to a political realignment, it has in recent elections become a safe Republican district. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+19, it is one of the most Republican districts in Indiana.

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 50% - 48% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 60% - 40% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 64% - 30% |
| 2016 | Senate | Young 54% - 41% |
| 2016 | Governor | Holcomb 53% - 45% |
| 2016 | Attorney General | Hill 66% - 34% |
| 2018 | Senate | Braun 58% - 38% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 65% - 33% |
| 2020 | Governor | Holcomb 65% - 25% |
| 2020 | Attorney General | Rokita 61% - 39% |
| 2022 | Senate | Young 67% - 30% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 67% - 31% |

## Composition

| # | County | Seat | Population |
| 11 | Clay | Brazil | 26,379 |
| 13 | Crawford | English | 10,536 |
| 14 | Daviess | Washington | 33,418 |
| 19 | Dubois | Jasper | 43,362 |
| 23 | Fountain | Covington | 16,574 |
| 26 | Gibson | Princeton | 32,993 |
| 28 | Greene | Bloomfield | 31,006 |
| 42 | Knox | Vincennes | 35,789 |
| 51 | Martin | Shoals | 9,803 |
| 59 | Orange | Paoli | 19,623 |
| 60 | Owen | Spencer | 21,482 |
| 61 | Parke | Rockville | 16,369 |
| 62 | Perry | Tell City | 19,183 |
| 63 | Pike | Petersburg | 12,168 |
| 65 | Posey | Mt. Vernon | 25,063 |
| 74 | Spencer | Rockport | 19,967 |
| 77 | Sullivan | Sullivan | 20,670 |
| 82 | Vanderburgh | Evansville | 179,744 |
| 83 | Vermillion | Newport | 15,451 |
| 84 | Vigo | Terre Haute | 106,006 |
| 87 | Warrick | Boonville | 65,185 |
As of 2023, Indiana's 8th congressional district is located in southwest and west central Indiana. It includes Clay, Crawford, Daviess, Dubois, Gibson, Greene, Knox, Martin, Orange, Owen, Parke, Perry, Pike, Posey, Spencer, Sullivan, Vanderburgh, Vermillion, Vigo, and Warrick Counties, and half of Fountain.
Fountain County is split between this district and the 4th district. They are partitioned on the western border by Indiana State Rt 32, East Prairie Chapel Road, and South New Liberty Road, and on the southeastern border by North Sandhill Road, Indiana West 260N, North Portland Arch Road, West County Home Road, and Indiana West 450N. The 8th district takes in the five townships of Fulton, Jackson, Millcreek, Van Buren, and Wabash, as well as most of the township of Troy and part of the township of Cain.

### Cities of 10,000 or more people

* Evansville – 118,414
* Terre Haute – 58,389
* Vincennes – 16,759
* Jasper – 16,703
* Washington – 12,017

### 2,500 – 10,000 people

* Princeton – 8,301
* Brazil – 8,176
* Tell City – 7,506
* Mt. Vernon – 6,493
* Huntingburg – 6,362
* Boonville – 6,712
* Linton – 5,133
* Clinton – 4,831
* Highland – 4,435
* North Terre Haute – 4,222
* Sullivan – 4,264
* Chandler – 3,693
* Melody Hill – 3,689
* Paoli – 3,666
* Newburgh – 3,344
* Bicknell – 3,092
* Fort Branch – 2,965
* Covington – 2,668
* Loogootee – 2,601
* Santa Claus – 2,586
* Rockville – 2,510

## History

Based in Evansville, the 8th congressional district was widened when Indiana lost a seat after the 2000 U.S. census to include much of the former 5th and 7th congressional districts. At that time, Bloomington (the home of former U.S. Representative Frank McCloskey) was moved into the 9th congressional district, while the 8th congressional district was extended northward to include much of the former 7th congressional district in west-central Indiana, including Terre Haute. As a result of this expansion, the district is the largest in area in Indiana with all or part of 18 counties.
The district has been nicknamed "The Bloody Eighth" because of a series of hard-fought campaigns and political reversals. Unlike most other districts in the state, which tend to give their representatives long tenures in Washington, the 8th congressional district has a reputation for frequently ousting incumbents from both parties. Since 1983, no one has held the seat or its predecessors for longer than 12 years. Voters in the district ousted six incumbents from 1966 to 1982. The election in 1984 was so close that the House of Representatives itself determined which of two candidates to seat, accepting the recommendation of the Democratic-controlled House task force sent to Indiana to count the ballots. Democratic incumbent Frank McCloskey ultimately won by a margin of four votes out of 233,000 cast. After that, McCloskey was reelected four more times before losing to Republican John Hostettler in 1994, amid the Republican Revolution. Hostettler represented the district for six terms before being defeated in a landslide by moderate Democrat Brad Ellsworth in 2006. It was the first district picked up by the Democrats that year, and was one of thirty nationwide that they gained while regaining control of the House. Ellsworth ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2010 and was succeeded by Republican Larry Bucshon in the same election cycle and has since become the first representative of the district to surpass six terms. Although Southern Indiana is ancestrally Democratic, the Democrats in this area are nowhere near as liberal as their counterparts in the rest of the state. Historically, it had a character similar to Yellow Dog Democrat districts in neighboring Kentucky. The district also has a strong tint of social conservatism.
In 2000, a New York Times reporter said of the district: "With a populist streak and a conservative bent, this district does not cotton to country club Republicans or to social-engineering liberals," and also said, "More than 95 percent white and about 41 percent rural, the region shares much of the flavor of the Bible Belt."
In 2013, the district shifted and was pushed southward toward Evansville, losing Fountain and Warren Counties, and gaining Dubois, Perry, and Spencer Counties, and a portion of Crawford County, uniting southwestern Indiana under one district.
In 2023, the district regained some its former territory, pushing back into Fountain County, but also gained the remainder of Crawford County and the entirety of Orange County from the 9th District.

## List of members representing the district

| Representative | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history |
| District created March 4, 1843 |||||
| John Pettit (Lafayette) | Democratic | March 4, 1843 – March 3, 1849 | 28th 29th 30th | Elected in 1843. Re-elected in 1845. Re-elected in 1847. Lost renomination. |
| Joseph E. McDonald (Crawfordsville) | Democratic | March 4, 1849 – March 3, 1851 | 31st | Elected in 1849. Retired. |
| Daniel Mace (Lafayette) | Democratic | March 4, 1851 – March 3, 1855 | 32nd 33rd 34th | Elected in 1851. Re-elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Retired. |
| Daniel Mace (Lafayette) | People's | March 4, 1855 – March 3, 1857 | 32nd 33rd 34th | Elected in 1851. Re-elected in 1852. Re-elected in 1854. Retired. |
| James Wilson (Crawfordsville) | Republican | March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1861 | 35th 36th | Elected in 1856. Re-elected in 1858. Retired. |
| Albert S. White (Stockwell) | Republican | March 4, 1861 – March 3, 1863 | 37th | Elected in 1860. Retired. |
| Godlove S. Orth (Lafayette) | Republican | March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1869 | 38th 39th 40th | Elected in 1862. Re-elected in 1864. Re-elected in 1866. Redistricted to the 7th district. |
| James N. Tyner (Peru) | Republican | March 4, 1869 – March 3, 1875 | 41st 42nd 43rd | Elected to the term left vacant by the resignation of Representative-elect Daniel D. Pratt. Re-elected in 1870. Re-elected in 1872. Lost renomination. |
| Morton C. Hunter (Bloomington) | Republican | March 4, 1875 – March 3, 1879 | 44th 45th | Redistricted from the 6th district and re-elected in 1874. Re-elected in 1876. Lost re-election. |
| Abraham J. Hostetler (Bedford) | Democratic | March 4, 1879 – March 3, 1881 | 46th | Elected in 1878. Retired. |
| Robert B. F. Peirce (Crawfordsville) | Republican | March 4, 1881 – March 3, 1883 | 47th | Elected in 1880. Lost re-election. |
| John E. Lamb (Terre Haute) | Democratic | March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1885 | 48th | Elected in 1882. Lost re-election. |
| James T. Johnston (Rockville) | Republican | March 4, 1885 – March 3, 1889 | 49th 50th | Elected in 1884. Re-elected in 1886. Lost re-election. |
| Elijah V. Brookshire (Crawfordsville) | Democratic | March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1895 | 51st 52nd 53rd | Elected in 1888. Re-elected in 1890. Re-elected in 1892. Lost re-election. |
| George W. Faris (Terre Haute) | Republican | March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1897 | 54th | Elected in 1894. Redistricted to the 5th district. |
| Charles L. Henry (Anderson) | Republican | March 4, 1897 – March 3, 1899 | 55th | Redistricted from the 7th district and re-elected in 1896. Retired. |
| George W. Cromer (Muncie) | Republican | March 4, 1899 – March 3, 1907 | 56th 57th 58th 59th | Elected in 1898. Re-elected in 1900. Re-elected in 1902. Re-elected in 1904. Lost re-election. |
| John A. M. Adair (Portland) | Democratic | March 4, 1907 – March 3, 1917 | 60th 61st 62nd 63rd 64th | Elected in 1906. Re-elected in 1908. Re-elected in 1910. Re-elected in 1912. Re-elected in 1914. Retired to run for Governor of Indiana. |
| Albert H. Vestal (Anderson) | Republican | March 4, 1917 – April 1, 1932 | 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd | Elected in 1916. Re-elected in 1918. Re-elected in 1920. Re-elected in 1922. Re-elected in 1924. Re-elected in 1926. Re-elected in 1928. Re-elected in 1930. Died. |
| Vacant | Vacant | April 1, 1932 – March 3, 1933 | 72nd | |
| John W. Boehne Jr. (Evansville) | Democratic | March 4, 1933 – January 3, 1943 | 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th | Redistricted from the 1st district and re-elected in 1932. Re-elected in 1934. Re-elected in 1936. Re-elected in 1938. Re-elected in 1940. Lost re-election. |
| Charles M. La Follette (Evansville) | Republican | January 3, 1943 – January 3, 1947 | 78th 79th | Elected in 1942. Re-elected in 1944. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| E. A. Mitchell (Evansville) | Republican | January 3, 1947 – January 3, 1949 | 80th | Elected in 1946. Lost re-election. |
| Winfield K. Denton (Evansville) | Democratic | January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1953 | 81st 82nd | Elected in 1948. Re-elected in 1950. Lost re-election. |
| D. Bailey Merrill (Evansville) | Republican | January 3, 1953 – January 3, 1955 | 83rd | Elected in 1952. Lost re-election. |
| Winfield K. Denton (Evansville) | Democratic | January 3, 1955 – December 30, 1966 | 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th | Elected in 1954. Re-elected in 1956. Re-elected in 1958. Re-elected in 1960. Re-elected in 1962. Re-elected in 1964. Lost re-election and resigned early. |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 30, 1966 – January 3, 1967 | 89th | |
| Roger H. Zion (Evansville) | Republican | January 3, 1967 – January 3, 1975 | 90th 91st 92nd 93rd | Elected in 1966. Re-elected in 1968. Re-elected in 1970. Re-elected in 1972. Lost re-election. |
| Philip H. Hayes (Evansville) | Democratic | January 3, 1975 – January 3, 1977 | 94th | Elected in 1974. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| David L. Cornwell (Paoli) | Democratic | January 3, 1977 – January 3, 1979 | 95th | Elected in 1976. Lost re-election. |
| H. Joel Deckard (Evansville) | Republican | January 3, 1979 – January 3, 1983 | 96th 97th | Elected in 1978. Re-elected in 1980. Lost re-election. |
| Frank McCloskey (Bloomington) | Democratic | January 3, 1983 – January 3, 1985 | 98th | Elected in 1982. Seat left vacant while election contest resolved. |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 3, 1985 – May 1, 1985 | 99th | Election contested and the House of Representatives refused to seat anyone. |
| Frank McCloskey (Smithville) | Democratic | May 1, 1985 – January 3, 1995 | 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd | Re-elected in 1985. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992 Lost re-election. |
| John Hostettler (Blairsville) | Republican | January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007 | 104th 105th 106th 107th 108th 109th | Elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Re-elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Lost re-election. |
| Brad Ellsworth (Evansville) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2011 | 110th 111th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Retired to run for U.S. Senator. |
| Larry Bucshon (Evansville) | Republican | January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2025 | 112th 113th 114th 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. |
| Mark Messmer (Jasper) | Republican | January 3, 2025– present | 119th | Elected in 2024. |

## Election results
### 2002

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election (2002) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Hostettler* | 98,952 | 51.31 |
| | Democratic | Bryan Hartke | 88,763 | 46.02 |
| | Libertarian | Pam Williams | 5,150 | 2.67 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 192,865 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election (2004) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | John Hostettler* | 145,576 | 53.37 |
| | Democratic | Jon Jennings | 121,522 | 44.55 |
| | Libertarian | Mark Garvin | 5,680 | 2.08 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 272,778 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election (2006) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brad Ellsworth | 131,019 | 61.02 |
| | Republican | John Hostettler* | 83,704 | 38.98 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 214,723 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2008

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election (2008) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Brad Ellsworth* | 189,109 | 64.75 |
| | Republican | Greg Goode | 102,940 | 35.25 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 292,049 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election (2010) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon | 117,259 | 57.55 |
| | Democratic | Trent Van Haaften | 76,265 | 37.43 |
| | Libertarian | John Cunningham | 10,240 | 5.03 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 203,764 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic | Republican gain from Democratic |

### 2012

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election (2012) :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon* | 151,533 | 53.36 |
| | Democratic | Dave Crooks | 122,325 | 43.07 |
| | Libertarian | Bart Gadau | 10,134 | 3.57 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 283,992 | 100.00 |
| Turnout | Turnout | Turnout | | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon (Incumbent) | 103,344 | 60.32 |
| | Democratic | Tom Spangler | 61,384 | 35.83 |
| | Libertarian | Andrew Horning | 6,587 | 3.84 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 171,315 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon (Incumbent) | 187,702 | 63.69 |
| | Democratic | Ronald L. Drake | 93,356 | 31.68 |
| | Libertarian | Andrew Horning | 13,655 | 4.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 294,713 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

Indiana's 8th Congressional District election, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon (Incumbent) | 157,396 | 64.4 |
| | Democratic | William Tanoos | 86,895 | 35.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 244,291 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Indiana's 8th congressional district, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon (incumbent) | 214,643 | 66.9 |
| | Democratic | Thomasina Marsili | 95,691 | 29.8 |
| | Libertarian | James D. Rodenberger | 10,283 | 3.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 320,617 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

2022 Indiana's 8th congressional district election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Bucshon (incumbent) | 141,995 | 65.7 |
| | Democratic | Ray McCormick | 68,109 | 31.5 |
| | Libertarian | Andrew Horning | 5,936 | 2.7 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 216,040 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |