Yoder accepts defeat in 9th district

Though Democratic candidate for Indiana's 9th Congressional District Shelli Yoder did not win Tuesday night, the love and support was there.

Republican incumbent Todd Young received 57 percent of the vote, while Yoder received 43 percent. She awaited the results at a private location with her husband, their three children and her parents.

Meanwhile, Yoder’s supporters and other Democratic voters packed into the Monroe County Democratic Headquarters, a house on South College Avenue with squishy carpet and a maze of rooms and doorways. They drank iced tea and beer from Solo Cups and snacked on a wide assortment of food ranging from hummus and pita bread to pudding cups.

Some rooms were empty, but most were bustling with activity — people making phone calls, people watching results on TV or a computer, people mingling and discussing their views and predictions. Cutouts of President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama stood silently among the Democrats.

Yoder’s husband Josh Perry, a professor in the IU Kelley School of Business, made a stop at the headquarters before joining his wife. He embraced Yoder’s interns as though they were family. Perry was the one who convinced Yoder to run. He said his main role in the campaign has been as a supportive husband and father.

“The kids have seen something that’s going to leave a positive impression for a long time,” he said.

Interns and volunteers for Yoder’s campaign came and went, wearing white “Shelli Yoder for Congress” T-shirts. They had spent months making calls to help fundraise for the campaign, coordinating events and telling people where they could vote.

Jon Sutton, an IU sophomore and Yoder’s internship director, described Yoder as “dynamic” — a word others seemed to agree with.

“She captures your attention in a crowd,” Sutton said. “She has a way of making connections with people ... a way of explaining complex issues in a way that is easy to understand.”

Connecting to Yoder was a common theme among her supporters. Bloomington resident and IU alumnus Angel Rivera Jr. walked in parades for Yoder in what he said was 100-degree heat during the summer. He said he remembers Yoder shaking every hand she could during her campaign.

Sutton was disappointed but commended Yoder’s efforts.

“I think she ran a very tough race in a very tough district,” he said. “She picked up votes that another Democrat wouldn’t have picked up. She outperformed the baseline of the district. With what she had, she did very well.”

When Yoder arrived at the headquarters Tuesday night, the crowd cheered and chanted her name. Her two eldest children, each with a slice of cake, stood by her side, along with her husband, sister, parents and in-laws.

She began by announcing that it was a bittersweet time, saying that the group had much to celebrate with Democrat Joe Donnelly’s win in the Senate race.

“I feel lucky and honored to be on the ticket with Donnelly and President Barack Obama,” Yoder said.

She then thanked her family for their support, her campaign for their efforts and the Monroe County Democrats as a whole.

“What happened with Joe Donnelly happened because of Monroe County,” she said.

Yoder cautioned the crowd that although she lost the race, the fight was not over.

“We decided to run because we wanted to make sure the middle class had someone fighting for them in Washington, and we cannot forget this loss,” she said.

At the end of her speech, a voice in the crowd called, “2014, Shelli!”

Afterward, Yoder expressed deep appreciation for the Bloomington and IU community that supported her throughout the race.

“I know the IU Democrats worked so hard, and I’m very proud of them,” she said.

Yoder does not yet know if she will run again in the next election, but she said she knows whatever she does will be a continuation of how she has lived her entire life.

“It’s always been with a heart for helping folks and helping the community,” she said. “I don’t know how it will unfold, but I know I can trust that the future is bright. I’ll make it bright.”