Joe Donnelly [2012]

Rep. Joe Donnelly [D-IN2]
U.S. Representative, Indiana’s 2nd District
Track Record
Challenging either Sen. Richard Lugar [R] or Richard Mourdock [R] for Senate

Indiana Congressman Joe Donnelly is running for Senate in 2012. He made the official announcement Monday.


The three-term, second district congressman from Northern Indiana announced his intention to run for current Senator Dick Lugar’s seat in a video on his website.

In it Donnelly says Indiana needs a senator willing to fight for the best interests of middle-class workers and seniors.
I ran for Congress to fight for jobs and the values of hard work, community and opportunity that come with those jobs. Now I’m here because I want to take the fight for American jobs and opportunity to the United State Senate. 
Some speculate Donnelly’s decision to run is based on the new congressional redistricting maps approved by the Indiana General Assembly. Under the new maps, Donnelly’s chances at reelection in his current district seem more unlikely. SOURCE

    



On the Issues
VoteMatch Responses 
(CLICK HERE for full answers)
  • Abortion is a woman's right - Strongly Opposes
  • Require hiring more women & minorities - Favors
  • Same-sex domestic partnership benefits - Opposes
  • Teacher-led prayer in public schools - Neutral
  • Death Penalty -  Neutral
  • Mandatory Three Strikes sentencing laws -  Opposes
  • Absolute right to gun ownership - Strongly Favors
  • More federal funding for health coverage -  Strongly Favors
  • Privatize Social Security - Strongly Opposes
  • Parents choose schools via vouchers -  Strongly Opposes
  • Replace coal & oil with alternatives - Favors
  • Drug use is immoral: enforce laws against it - Favors
  • Allow churches to provide welfare services -  Opposes
  • Make taxes more progressive -  Favors
  • Illegal immigrants earn citizenship - Strongly Opposes
  • Support & expand free trade -  Strongly Opposes
  • Expand the armed forces - Favors
  • Stricter limits on political campaign funds - Strongly Favors
  • The Patriot Act harms civil liberties - Opposes
  • US out of Iraq & Afghanistan - Opposes


About

As a husband, father, former small business owner, and graduate of Notre Dame, Joe Donnelly understands the Hoosier values of family, faith, and hard work. His father was a small business owner and his mother was a homemaker. After graduating from Notre Dame in 1977, Joe went on to graduate from the Notre Dame Law School in 1981.

After practicing law and working in business for 15 years, Joe opened his own small business, Marking Solutions, based out of Mishawaka. Marking Solutions was a printing and rubber stamp company and enjoyed success in its 10 years of operation.

Joe has enjoyed a long and distinguished career not only in business, but also as a public servant. From 1988-1989 he served on the Indiana State Election Board, a position that allowed him to work with members of both parties to ensure fair and accurate election results. Joe was also a member of the school board for Mishawaka Marian High School from 1997-2001, serving as president during the 2000-2001 school term. In this position, he gained valuable insight and experience in managing and finding solutions to the problems that our education system faces.

In 2006, he was elected to U.S. Congress to represent Indiana's 2nd District. He is currently serving his third term after being reelected in 2008 and 2010. He is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition which promotes a moderate agenda that includes fiscal discipline and strong national security. Joe also serves on two important committees that help meet the diverse needs of Indiana's 2nd District: Financial Services and Veteran's Affairs.

Joe lives in Granger with his wife, Jill. Together they have two children, Molly and Joe, Jr. They are members of St. Anthony de Padua Parish, where Joe served as chairman of the Bishop's Appeal Campaign from 1994-1996. SOURCE

Meeting hard-working Hoosiers at the statehouse
to stand up against so-called Right to Work law.