INDIANAPOLIS -- With control of the Senate at stake, Indiana became a focus for Republicans and Democrats at the national level. Millions of dollars flooded the campaigns of former Senator Evan Bayh and Todd Young.
The assumption of many was that Bayh would easily win the Senate seat, but after a brutal campaign, FiveThirtyEight’s 2016 Election Forecastnow puts the probability of Young winning at 69 percent.
So as you get ready to head to the polls – let’s take a look at where the candidates stand on some of the important issues.
ABORTION
Todd Young is pro-life and opposes abortion on demand. Young co-sponsored and voted to advance the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act. He also voted to defund Planned Parenthood.
Evan Bayh voted to endorse Roe v. Wade – the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion on demand. He has pledged to fight to continue providing government funds to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
Todd Young voted to repeal Obamacare.
“Hoosiers find Obamacare highly unpopular because it’s a real job killer. It’s the largest tax increase in American history.”
Evan Bayh voted to enact Obamacare.
“We need to fix the parts of the law that need to be fixed.”
CLIMATE CHANGE
Evan Bayh thinks Hoosiers need to emphasize renewables, efficiency, clean coal generation and ethanol. He does not agree with the cap and crate system or the clean power plan. In 2009 he voted to make it harder for the Senate to pass legislation about climate change and opposed regulations issued by the Obama administration to curb greenhouse gas emission from power plants.
Todd Young said he supports those same regulations, but climate change is a global issue, “not a Hoosier problem,” and that we do not want to ruin our economy trying to tackle it.
GUNS
Evan Bayh said he supports the second amendment, but believes we should ban gun sales to people on the government’s “no-fly” list and convicted felons. He has voted to extend the ban on assault weapons and is opposed to limiting the liability of manufacturers and dealers for any crimes committed with their products.
Todd Young said he believes the mentally ill should not have access to guns. And while background checks are necessary, he believes they are far from the first thing we should be fixing to address gun violence.
INDIANA JOBS
Evan Bayh said his top priority is growing Indiana’s economy. He wants to expand Hoosier business and create more jobs. He said he is against importing products into the U.S. below the cost of production and is also against tax breaks for companies shipping their jobs out of the United States.
Todd Young said he believes the reason jobs are moving overseas is because of Obamacare.
MORE | WATCH: Young, Bayh square off in their only U.S. Senate debate
