Profiles of Indiana's U.S. Senate candidates

RICHARD LUGAR, R
Incumbent Senator Richard “Dick” Lugar has represented Indiana in the United States Senate since 1977. He is currently the most senior Republican member of the Senate and serves as the Republican leader of the Senate Foreign Relations and Agriculture committees.

Before running for Senate, Lugar served as mayor of Indianapolis from 1968 to 1976.  

As Senator, Lugar worked with Democratic Senator Sam Nunn to pass legislation that has deactivated more than 7,500 nuclear weapons.

In his 2006 election, the state Democratic Party did not field a candidate, and Lugar won with more than 87 percent of the vote.

RICHARD MOURDOCK, R
Richard Mourdock currently serves as the treasurer for the state of Indiana. Mourdock was first elected in 2006 and was re-elected in 2010 with more than 60 percent of the vote.

Mourdock has received the support of Tea Party activists who appreciate his fight for limited government and reduced taxes.

Mourdock led a legal battle against the Obama Administration over the bailout of Chrysler, but he lost the case in the U.S. Supreme Court.

JOE DONNELLY, D
Joe Donnelly currently serves as the U.S. Representative for Indiana’s 2nd Congressional District, located in the northern part of the state. He is the only declared Democratic Party candidate for the 2012 Senate race.

A moderate Democrat, he has received high ratings from the National Rifle Association in the past and is pro-life.

First elected in 2006, Donnelly narrowly won re-election in 2010. State Republicans controlled this year’s redistricting process and their party altered Donnelly’s district to include more historically conservative communities.