Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.)

“Bloody 8th”

The 8th is nicknamed the Bloody 8th for its history of tight congressional elections. Between 1966 and 1982, six incumbents lost their re-election races in the 8th – including four in a row in the 1970s. In 1984, Democratic Rep. Frank McCloskey avoided becoming the seventh ousted incumbent after the Democratic-controlled House overturned his challenger’s 418-vote lead“House Refuses to Seat Republican of Indiana,” Associated Press, February 8, 1985 and declared him the winner by only 4 votes. McCloskey went on to comfortably win re-election until 1994, when he was unseated by Republican John Hostettler in the year the GOP retook the House majority.

The Bloody 8th’s curse thus had a new representative to haunt: While he won re-election five times, Hostettler never received more than 53% of the vote - even after redistricting in 2001 made the 8th more Republican.

The 8th in its current form clearly leans Republican: It gave George W. Bush 57% and 62% of the vote in 2000 and 2004, and 2008 presidential nominee John McCain (R-Ariz.) prevailed 51% to 47%. While Ellsworth’s candidacy immediately marked Hostettler as vulnerable, he would have to swim against the district’s conservative tide.

2006 and 2008 Campaigns

Ellsworth kicked off his House campaign on a strong note in November 2005, when he was praised for his relief efforts after a tornado devastated Southern Indiana. Prince, Deantae, “Congressman faces GOP Greg Goode in November,” The Tribune Star, July 2, 2008 He cultivated  a workman-like image, highlighting his decisiveness, his ability to make tough choices and his willingness to take on the Washington establishment. One of Ellsworth’s ads explained that he saw the world “as a sheriff, not a politician.”“The new members of the House,” Roll Call, November 13, 2006

Faced with Hostettler’s efforts to link his opponent to House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Ellsworth downplayed his Democratic credentials. He highlighted his conservative positions such as his opposition to abortion rights and his advocacy for cracking down on illegal immigration,“The new members of the House,” Roll Call, November 13, 2006and he hit the Republican incumbent for being soft on crime.Charles, Katie, Kohen, Yael and Nanos, Janelle, “The Mud Report: As Democrats salivate over their chances, Republicans are spitting back.” New York magazine, October 16, 2006

Until the last few weeks of the campaign, Hostettler held few events and he raised little money (as of April 2006, he only had $59,000 in the bankWhittington, Lauren, “Sheriff under the gun; NRCC hits Ellsworth in Indiana TV ad war,” Roll Call, July 3, 2006, leading many to wonder whether he remained invested in the race.  By the end of the campaign, Ellsworth had outraised the incumbent three-to-oneLanghorne, Thomas, “Hostettler inactivity curious,” Evansville Courier & Press, September 3, 2006 and Hostettler had landed on Washington Post reporter Chris Cillizza’s list of the 10 worst-run incumbent campaigns.Cillizza, Chris, “The 10 Worst-Run Incumbent Campaigns,” The Washington Post, November 2, 2006   

On November 6th, Ellsworth won an overwhelming victory, 61% to 39%. Of the 24 incumbents who lost re-election that year, Hostettler suffered the biggest defeat.

As a freshman representative representing a red-leaning district, Ellsworth found himself on 2008 Republican target list from the minute he was sworn-in. Confident Republicans touted the candidacy of Greg Goode, a former congressional aide.Langhorne, Thomas, “GOP focusing on 8th, Evansville Courier & Press, May 28, 2007

Yet, it soon became evident that 2008 would be just as challenging a year for Republicans as 2006 and the anti-Ellsworth campaign fell by the wayside. While Ellsworth collected endorsements from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Rifle Association,Foulkes, Arthur, “Indiana's Congressional 8th District Preview,” The Tribune-Star, October 12, 2008 Goode only raised about $223,000.Foulkes, Arthur, “Indiana's Congressional 8th District Preview,” The Terre Haute, October 12, 2008 On November 4th, 2008, Ellsworth triumphed 65% to 35%.

Social Issues

In the aftermath of Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) defeat in the 2004 presidential election, many analysts argued that the Democratic Party simply couldn’t attract socially conservative “values” voters who opposed abortion rights and owned guns.Groppe, Maureen, “Moral issues take the stage in conservative districts; 'Values voters' will help decide close contests,” The Indianapolis Star, November 5, 2006

In 2006, Democrats like Ellsworth attracted national attention when they ran on a socially-conservative platform.Foulkes, Arthur, “Indiana's Congressional 8th District Preview,” The Terre Haute, October 12, 2008 Ellsworth defines himself as “pro-life”Groppe, Maureen, “Moral issues take the stage in conservative districts; 'Values voters' will help decide close contests,” The Indianapolis Star, November 5, 2006 and believes abortion should be illegal except in cases of rape, incest and to protect the life of the mother. Ellsworth has cited abortion as the country’s biggest moral issue.Roll call vote

In 2007, just a few days after joining the House, Ellsworth was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would have allowed federally-funded stem cell researchGroppe, Maureen, “Ind.'s new lawmakers poised to vote against party on stem cell research,” Gannett News Service, January 11, 2007 (37 Republicans voted in favor of the bill, leaving it short of a veto-proof majority). "My personal beliefs, and those of many of my constituents, guide me to honor the sanctity of life, all life," Ellsworth said. "The destruction of human embryos, regardless of the noble goals of stem cell researchers, is too high of a price."Rothenberg, Stuart, “Indiana's 8th: For the Democrats, It's Now or Never,” Roll Call, February 9, 2006

Ellsworth supports a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage.Hate Crime law; Mauren Groppe, “2 Dems oppose hate crime expansion,” The Indianapolis Star, May 4, 2007 In May 2007, he was one of only 14 Democrats to vote against a bill that would have added sexual orientation, gender identity and disability to federal hate-crime laws.Langhorne, Thomas, “Ellsworth defends his positions; lawmaker talks tough on issue of illegal immigration,” Courier & Press, “October 21, 2007

Immigration

Ellsworth has argued that efforts to arrest illegal immigrants would prove too costly. “We're going to lock up 12 (million) to 20 million and foot the bill for that? It cannot happen,” he said in 2007.Lesnick, Gavin, “Enforcing immigrant laws still difficult,” Evansville Courier & Press, March 18, 2007 He believes government should first devote its attention to securing the border and cracking down on employers who violate immigration laws.Press release, “Ellsworth Introduces Legal Employee Verification Act,” April 20, 2007

In his first year in Congress, Ellsworth introduced the Legal Employee Verification Act, which toughens penalties on employers who violate immigration laws and establishes a federally- monitored employment eligibility verification system. “Without available jobs, illegal immigrants have little incentive to leave their native countries,” Ellsworth explained.Roll call vote

The Economy

In the fall of 2008, Ellsworth supported both versions of the Bush administration’s financial bailout plan, including the one that failed to pass the House.Bailout: Smith, Nate, “Goode challenging Ellsworth in 8th district,” Washington Times-Herald, November 1, 2008 Ellsworth explained that the rescue package was necessary for small businesses and local banks to get credit from larger banks. "If I thought this was bailing out some CEOs on Wall Street, I would have never voted for it," he said. "Doing nothing is worse than doing something.”Roll call vote

A few months later, Ellsworth was one of 11 Democrats to vote against the first version of Barack Obama’s economic stimulus bill.Langhorne, Thomas, “Change of direction; Ellsworth explains ‘yes’ vote after initially opposing stimulus,” Courier & Press, February 20, 2009 He explained that he had concerns over excessive spending, citing items like $20 million to resod the National Mall and $400 million to screen and prevent sexually-transmitted diseases.Roll call vote After centrist Senators and the conference committee removed spending provisions and increased the share of tax cuts in the package, Ellsworth voted in favor of the final stimulus package.Langhorne, Thomas, “Change of direction; Ellsworth explains ‘yes’ vote after initially opposing stimulus,” Courier & Press, February 20, 2009

The former sheriff explained that Congress had to do something. "I'm not willing to risk it and say we can sit back and let the market handle it," he said. While he did allow that the stimulus bill was “absolutely not” perfect and that he might still “be proven wrong,”Bailout: Smith, Nate, “Goode challenging Ellsworth in 8th district,” Washington Times-Herald, November 1, 2008 he voiced his support for the principle underlying the stimulus bill. "I think any economist will tell you, if you spend money, it will create jobs," he said.

A member of the House Small Business Committee, Ellsworth supports tax incentives for small business. "Any time we can put more money into our taxpayers’ pockets, I like that," he said.   He also introduced the Small Business Regulatory Improvement Act, which requires agencies to consider the economic impact of new regulation and regulatory regimes.Offical Web site of Brad Ellsworth, page on small businessesEllsworth’s pro-business record helped him gain the endorsement of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2008.Foulkes, Arthur, “Indiana's Congressional 8th District Preview,” The Tribune-Star, October 12, 2008

Ellsworth has criticized free-trade agreements, describing himself as a “fair trade” advocate. During the 2006 campaign, he criticized the Central American Free Trade Agreement, arguing that it was “taking jobs from our workers.”Rothenberg, Stuart, “Indiana's 8th: For the Democrats, It's Now or Never,” Roll Call, February 9, 2006 In 2007, Ellsworth voted in favor of the Peru free-trade agreement. (A narrow majority of the Democratic Caucus opposed the agreement).Roll call vote

Iraq   

Ex-Rep. Hostettler, Ellsworth’s 2006 opponent, was one of the few Republican congressmen to have voted against the Iraq war. But Ellsworth indicated that “he probably would have voted” in favor of the resolution; he added that he would have opposed it “knowing what I know now.”Langhorne, Thomas, “Ellsworth: Iraq war resolution was tough call,” Evansville Courier & Press, October 28, 2006 He also voiced strong opposition to Rep. Jack Murtha’s (D-Pa.) proposal of a timetable for U.S. withdrawal.Rothenberg, Stuart, “Indiana's 8th: For the Democrats, It's Now or Never,” Roll Call, February 9, 2006

Once in the House, Ellsworth voted against bills that provided for the redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq.Roll call vote While he joined 245 of his colleagues to pass a resolution disapproving the troop surge in February 2007,Roll call votehe later explained his vote by saying that he did not think the surge was large enough.Foulkes, Arthur, “Indiana's Congressional 8th District Preview,” The Terre Haute, October 12, 2008