By Grace Schneider 812-949-4040
Democratic primary voters in Southern Indiana’s 9th Congressional District swung their support behind Shelli Yoder, a first-time candidate who works as a professional development director at Indiana University in Bloomington.
Yoder, a 43-year-old mother of three young children, won the five-way race to set up a general election battle against GOP freshman Rep. Todd Young of Bloomington, who defeated incumbent Baron Hill in 2010.
“What this proved is that money isn’t everything,” Yoder said in a phone interview from Monroe County Democratic headquarters in Bloomington.
Yoder, a former Miss Indiana who grew up in a Mennonite family, defeated Robert Winningham, a former aide to longtime U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, who had worked in economic development recently in Texas.
Also in the race were Heltonville farmer Jonathan George, a retired brigadier general and adviser in President Barack Obama’s administration, Corydon’s John Griffin Miller and John Tilford of Bloomington.
Yoder had focused her campaign message on the struggles of working families and her experience managing nonprofit organizations. She criticized Young during the campaign for ignoring working people and voting with fellow Republicans to ensure major corporations and other “haves” remain in control.
“Shelli brought a level of enthusiasm and authenticity that really connected with voters. I think our team did a pretty good job,” Yoder’s husband and campaign adviser Josh Perry, an IU professor, said as the results rolled in.
Winningham, 50, who waged the most organized campaign and raised the most of the five contenders with more than $100,000, praised Yoder for running a clean race.
“I will give her my full support, and I’m proud to back her,” he said.
Yoder will need that support — and lots more, according to most political handicappers who track the House races. Young is sitting on a $1 million campaign war chest in a district where Republicans redrew lines to give their candidates a considerable edge.
With the unpopularity of Obama in Southern Indiana and an expected strong showing by GOP gubernatorial primary winner Mike Pence, Young isn’t predicted to face much of a threat to win a second term.
Yoder said she understands the playing field, but she credited grass-roots support for pushing her over the top Tuesday and projected it would be her ally in November.
“We do see raising money is going to be part of the challenge,” Yoder said, “(but) we’re ready for that.”
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Shelli Yoder wins Democratic nod to take on Todd Young for the Indiana 9th District Seat
