Unofficial results being reported by the St. Joseph Co. Clerk's office with 12 of 12 vote centers reporting and with partial absentee results included, shows B. Patrick Bauer's daughter leading a field of three candidates vying to take his seat. The New York Times has called the race naming her as the winner.
The elder Bauer retired this year from the seat he held for 50 years.
The three candidates who were running to take over the IN House District 6 seat included Maureen Bauer, Garrett Blad, and Drew Duncan.
As of 10pm Tuesday, here were the results:
Maureen Bauer 2,169 (43.8%)
Garrett Blad 1,935 (39.08%)
Drew Duncan 848 (17.12%)
Voters had mixed feelings at the polls about which candidate would be best to take over the position.
Brian Fitzpatrick says he voted for Blad because he doesn’t think another Bauer should get in office.
“I don’t like the idea of electing someone just because they were born in the right family. That doesn’t sound like democracy that sounds like aristocracy,” Fitzpatrick says.
Anna Nelson says she voted for Bauer based on experience, something she feels the other two candidates lack.
“I believe in people who have stood the test of time in government and taken actionable steps and proven that they’re willing to put their career on the line to do the right thing,” Nelson says.
Tricia Hauser says her family was split between Duncan and Blad, but won’t be voting for Bauer.
“We just feel like that family has been in office for 50 years so we’re ready for a fresh voice,” Hauser says.
Patrick Bauer was Indiana’s longest-serving state representative.
