By Rick Howlett/Gabe BullardOrange County deputy prosecutor Todd Young held off a strong showing by Columbus real estate investor Travis Hankins to win the Republican primary for Indiana's 9th District U.S. House seat, according Associated Press returns. With all but one precinct reporting, Young had 34 percent of the vote, Hankins had 32 percent, and former Congressman Mike Sodrel, in the race for the fifth time, had 30 percent. Automotive engineer Rick Warren captured three percent of the vote.Young says voters have sent a significant message by choosing him over Sodrel."I think people are ready for new energy, new ideas and I was encouraged that they determined I was going to be the most effective standard-bearer come the general election this year," he says.Young will face Democratic incumbent Baron Hill in the fall election. Hill easily defeated four opponents to win the nomination.
Rick Howlett was midday host and the host of LPM's weekly talk show, "In Conversation." He was with LPM from 2001-2023 and held many different titles, including Morning Edition host, Assignment Editor and Interim News Director. He died in August 2023. Read a remembrance of Rick here.