Young clinches two more years

Rep. Todd Young, R-9th District, clinched another two years in Congress after a late ballot count Tuesday night.

“My bags are packed, I’m ready to suit up and I’m ready to serve another two years as your 9th-District congressman,” Young  said.

Young beat Democratic candidate Shelli Yoder 57 to 43 percent, with 97 percent of votes counted, said Trevor Foughty, Young’s press secretary.

“Hoosiers have spoken loud and clear tonight,” Young said. “In its simplest terms, this race was really about trust.”

Young made his official address at 10:30 pm. at KRC Banquets and Catering in Bloomington, where families, local candidates, College Republicans and Monroe County Republicans alike gathered to watch the results roll in.

Young began his victory speech by sending regards to Yoder and thanking his family and entire campaign staff. He then vowed to continue working to make decisions on behalf of Hoosiers, placing the power “back in the people themselves.”

Supporters began arriving at the victory celebration at 6:30 p.m.

They waited patiently for the results and for Young to arrive. As Young walked in at 9:30 p.m., with the ballot counting still unfinished, the crowd stood and applauded, shaking hands with Young as he made his way around the room.

The results were expected to come in by 8 p.m., but strong voter turnouts in several 9th-District counties held up the counting, Foughty said.

Monroe County, which planned on closing polls at 6 p.m., extended polling hours to 9 p.m. because of long voter lines. Clark County precincts ran out of ballots at about 6 p.m., causing voters to wait in line for additional ones to be printed.

For Young, the day started at 6 a.m. when he cast his ballot at Smithville Christian Church in Bloomington. He spent the morning and afternoon traveling to polling locations throughout the district, greeting voters for one final campaign push, Foughty said.

“The positive response, the high turnout we saw everywhere, it was all encouraging,” Foughty said.

Young’s final stop, at about 3 p.m., was in Salem, Ind., the same place where he completed his campaigning two years ago.

“He felt like it was good luck, so he went to the same polling place,” Foughty said.
Jenny Young, Todd’s wife, said the campaign has been easier this time around. His 2010 campaign began only five weeks after the couple’s twins were born, she said.

“This time the kids and I have been going to all sorts of events,” Jenny said as her son Tucker handed her a Spiderman picture he was coloring. “It’s hard on us being away from Todd, but I think it’s harder for him.”

Jenny said they hope to have a family dinner tomorrow night before Young returns to Washington, D.C.

Todd’s mother, Nancy Young, twirled around 5-year-old Ava, who wore a pink tutu matching that of her 8-year-old sister, Abby.

Nancy, an IU grad, said she has enjoyed meeting with Todd’s constituents.
“He loves his job,” she said. “I’m excited that he’ll have the opportunity to return to Congress to complete what he started there.”

Susan Monsey arrived with her three children, her 6-month-old daughter Megan wearing a red, white and blue bow on her head. Monsey is a close friend of Jenny and attends Sherwood Oaks Christian Church with the Young family.

Monsey, whose husband served in Afghanistan for the last six months, said she is grateful for Todd’s military support and hopes he continues it in his next term.

“He’s been very supportive,” she said. “When I see him at church he asks how my husband’s doing and if we need anything.”

On the other end of the room, about 20 IU College Republicans talked about Young’s campaign.

Chairwoman Hilary Leighty said the group had been making calls since before school started, making more than 30,000 calls for all Republican candidates combined.

Leighty said Young has been extremely supportive of the College Republicans, taking time out of his campaign to write a letter encouraging constituents to donate to the group.

Vice chairman Daniel Cheesman said he hopes to see Young continue to lead Congress on the path toward fiscal austerity through his work on the Budget Committee.

“That’s what he campaigned for in 2010, and that’s what he campaigned for now,” Cheesman said. “He’s the man to do it.”

One of many local Republican candidates who attended the victory rally, Republican State Senate candidate Reid Dallas said he looks up to Young’s approachable personality.

“He was the first person to call me this morning and let me know I was on his mind,” Dallas said.

Young said one lesson he learned in his last term was that tone matters.

“There are times for debating,” he said. “But you can do that in a respectful, statesman-like way.”

Looking forward, Young said he aims to continue to take part in the larger effort to reform the tax code and tame the national debt. He said he plans to continue to take the lead on the REINS Act, giving Congress more control over the regulatory process of federal rules.

Following his speech, Young said he was humbled by his win and won’t take it for granted.

“Let’s enjoy our time with friends and family, and then let’s get to work,” he said.