Indiana U.S. Senate Election Results: Donnelly Concedes To Braun

ACROSS INDIANA — Republican Mike Braun is projected to win the U.S. Senate race in Indiana, according to several reports, including AP and ABC. AP reported Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly conceded his Senate race after losing to his Republican challenger at an election night party in Indianapolis Tuesday.

Donnelly was seeking his second term against Braun and Libertarian Lucy Brenton.

Donnelly the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Indiana on May 8, 2018, with Braun coming out on top in the Republican primary.

Donnelly held a slight edge in some previous polls, but the question was whether Donnelly's vote against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh could impact Tuesday's race.

Donnelly won his first Senate election in 2012 thanks in part to big voting numbers in northwest Indiana and the Indianapolis area, heavily populated places where AP said he needs to do well again to be re-elected.

Braun had the support of high-profile Republicans including President Donald Trump, who made several appearances in Indiana during the campaign.

More Patch coverage:

• Results: Mike Braun Wins IN GOP Senate Primary, Other Winners
• Pence, Biden Attend Dueling Rallies In Fierce Indiana Race
• Obama Praises Donnelly, Says Voters Don't Want A 'Yes Man'

Donnelly, Braun on the issues

According to the Washington Times, when it comes to health care, both candidates don't see eye to eye. Donnelly said the fate of health care coverage is on the line, the news report said, and warns that Braun supports "unwinding" the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). The Washington Times adds that Braun said Donnelly was wrong to support the “Unaffordable Care Act” and that “career politicians” like the incumbent Democrats are in the way of strengthening the health care system.

However, both feel strongly about taking care of the mental health of our veterans. Braun's campaign website said one of the candidate's focuses is to help veterans suffering with PTSD receive mental health treatment, and Donnelly's campaign website notes the Incumbent Senator's “Service Member and Veteran Care Package,” which are 'a trio of bipartisan bills focused on increasing access to mental health and suicide prevention assistance from those with the best awareness of the specific issues veterans and service members face, have all been signed into law.'

There is a slight difference in their pro-life views, according to IndyStar. This is shown where Donnelly, according to the news report, is against abortion but makes exceptions in incest, rape and life-saving cases. Braun is 100 percent pro-life, no exceptions, IndyStar reported.

“One thing that’s obviously absolutely critical and at the center of everything is respecting and protecting the life of the mom,"Donnelly said, according to IndyStar. "That’s why I support exceptions for rape and for incest and for the life of the mother. To me, I think that’s really critical."

Braun is a supporter of Trump tax cuts, but Donnelly has voted against them.

Read more about these candidates on their candidate pages:

• Joe Donnelly
• Mike Braun

Photo: Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, joined by his wife Jill, concedes his Senate race after losing to Republican challenger Mike Braun during an election night party in Indianapolis Tuesday Nov. 6, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)