Spotlight on the IN 8th Congressional District

Republican Winner, Larry Bucshon
The Indiana 8th Congressional District is found in the southwestern and west central regions of the state. Based in Evansville, it was enlarged when Indiana lost a seat after the 2000 Census and now includes much of the former 5th and 7th Districts. Bloomington was then moved into the 9th District, while the 8th was extended northward to include much of the former 7th district in west central Indiana, including Terre Haute. The district is now the largest in area in Indiana with all or part of 18 counties. In 2000 and 2004, George W. Bush won decisive victories here and in 2008, John McCain carried it by 4 points over Barack Obama. Democrat Brad Ellsworth captured this seat in the 2006 mid-terms and was resoundingly re-elected in 2008. His electoral success in this Republican leaning district placed him on the radar screen for a future statewide run and he decided to run for the U.S. Senate recently vacated by Evan Bayh. The open seat created a great opportunity for a GOP pickup and Dr. Larry Bucshon had an easy run over Democrat William Trent Van Haaften. Bucshon's margin of victory was 58% to 38%.
Larry Bucshon
  • Born and raised in the midwest (Kincaid, IL)
  • Bachelor’s degree, Univ. of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne
  • Medical school, Univ. of Illinois, Chicago
  • Chief resident in surgery and fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery, Medical College of Wisconsin
  • Successful medical practice for over two decades
  • U.S. Navy Reserve, almost a decade
  • President of Ohio Valley HeartCare since 2003
  • Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Medical Director of the open heart recovery intensive care unit, St. Mary’s Hospital
  • Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • St. Mary’s Medical Staff Physician of the year, 2007

ISSUES:

  • Reduce tax burden and encourage investment; private sector economic solutions; transparency in legislation; oppose government run health care system; right to life; ensure veterans receive necessary benefits and care; right to bear arms; against amnesty, for stronger border security and enforcement of existing immigration laws; energy independence; constituent interests come before the interests of my party.
“Words fail to describe my disappointment that Southwest Indiana’s Congressman, U.S. Rep. Brad Ellsworth, voted for Nancy Pelosi’s so-called health care reform bill on Sunday. “It just he is listening to the Party bosses in Washington and Indianapolis who will decide whether he gets to run for the US Senate seat being vacated by Evan Bayh. No one in their right mind thinks taking a trillion dollars of economic activity focused on saving lives and enhancing health and running it through the mess that is Washington, D.C., will help health care or improve our economy. “It is time for major changes in Washington, D.C., and that’s why I ask for your vote on May 4, so that with our diagnoses in hand, I can go to Washington as the people’s representative to repeal this disastrous act and make sure patients and the people are first, not government, in our health care system.”
I'll Fight For You
The Spotlight On reports are overviews of actual Republican primary winners or top Republican primary contenders. Spotlights should not be interpreted as recommendations to support specific candidates. Before supporting any candidate, do thorough research to confirm that the candidate shares your views on issues you deem most important.