A Salem Republican outlasted a field of eight other candidates on Tuesday to win the party’s nomination for Indiana’s Ninth Congressional District seat.

Erin Houchin, a former state representative and state senator, wound up with 21,671 or 37% of the votes cast in the district that spans 18 counties, including Jackson.

Houchin will square off against Matthew Fyfe, a Democrat who lives in Bloomington, and Libertarian Tonya Millis, also of Bloomington, in the Nov. 8 general election.

Fyfe, a high school math teacher, picked up 56.5% or 11,998 of the votes cast in the primary to defeat Isak Asare, who finished with 6,253 or 29.5% of the vote. Liam Dorris finished third with 2,973 or 14% of the votes.

“We have a golden opportunity to flip this district blue,” Fyfe said on his Facebook page. “Voters decisively told us that they want a working-class Hoosier — a teacher, father and union leader — to represent them in Washington, D.C. My Republican opponent is campaigning on divisive and polarizing issues, rather than fighting for policies like good schools, family health and good jobs.”

Houchin’s nearest competitor was Mike Sodrel of Jeffersonville, who finished with 14,993 or nearly 26% of the votes.

Houchin said she is honored that Republicans across southern Indiana have entrusted her with their votes.

“I’ve spent my life in the Ninth District and look forward to carrying our momentum through November and being the proven conservative fighter we need in Washington,” she said. “It’s time to push back against the radical Biden-Pelosi agenda and take our country back.”

Stu Barnes-Israel, one of Houchin’s eight GOP opponents, thanked those who gave their time, treasure, passion and prayers to his campaign.

“Our country is worth fighting for, and this fight is never easy,” the Greensburg man said. “Hoosiers have spoken and Erin Houchin is our Republican nominee for Indiana’s Ninth District. Erin has my full support, and I hope you will join me in supporting her campaign and ensuring she gets to Washington, D.C., to defend our Constitution and fight for conservative principles.”

The rest of the Republican field shows Barnes-Israel with 12,182 votes, followed by Jim Baker of Charlestown, 2,942, J. Michael Davisson of Salem, 1,592, Eric Schansberg of Jeffersonville, 1,558, Brian Tibbs of Marysville 1,461, Dan Heiwig of Seymour, 918, and Bill Thomas of Corydon, 756.

State House District 62

Dave Hall, a small business owner living in Norman, won the GOP nomination for the Indiana House District 62 seat by defeating Greg “No Bull” Knott of Bloomington.

Hall collected 56.7% or 2,880 votes with 97.13% of the estimated votes counted. Knott finished with 2,202 or 43.3% of the votes.

Hall will face Democrat Penny Githens of Bloomington, who took 2,891 or 68% of her party’s vote to defeat Brad Swain of Springville, who finished 1,349 or 31.8%.

On his Facebook page, Hall said he cannot thank the voters of House District 62 enough for their overwhelming support during this election.

“I’m going to continue to work hard to connect with the people of our district so we can take a unified conservative voice to the Statehouse this fall,” he said.

District 62 includes Owen, Pershing and Salt Creek townships in Jackson County, all of Brownstown and most of Monroe County, including Bloomington.

State House District 65

Incumbent Chris May of Bedford won the Republican Party nomination for the Indiana District 65 House race by defeating challenger John Lee 5,691 (76.9%) to 1,786 (23.1%). District 65 includes Carr Township in Jackson County, all of Lawrence County and parts of Orange and Washington counties.

May will face Democrat Kevin Goodman, who ran unopposed in the primary.

Turnout

With just one countywide race — the GOP sheriff’s contest — on the ballot, only 4,641 or 6% of the county’s 28,231 registered voters voted in the primary. That’s well below the 29% who turned out to vote in the 2018 primary. That year, 8,079 out of 27,758 registered voters cast ballots. In 2014, 4,932 or 17% of the county’s 29,454 registered voters cast ballots in the primary.