Brad Ellsworth

{{Short description|American politician (born 1958)}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Brad Ellsworth | image = Brad Ellsworth, official 110th Congress photo.jpg | state = Indiana | district = {{ushr|IN|8|8th}} | term_start = January 3, 2007 | term_end = January 3, 2011 | predecessor = John Hostettler | successor = Larry Bucshon | office1 = Sheriff of Vanderburgh County | term_start1 = January 6, 1999 | term_end1 = January 3, 2007 | predecessor1 = Ray Hamner | successor1 = Eric Williams | birth_name = John Bradley Ellsworth | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1958|9|11}} | birth_place = Jasper, Indiana, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = Shannon Ellsworth | children = 1 | education = University of Southern Indiana (BS) Indiana State University (MS) | caption = Official portrait, 2007 }} '''John Bradley Ellsworth'''<ref name="2007 Financial Disclosure Statement">{{cite news | title=2007 Financial Disclosure Statement | url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/politics/congress/fin_dis/2006/e000289.pdf| date=2007-05-07 | newspaper=The Washington Post}}</ref> (born September 11, 1958) is an American politician who was the U.S. representative for {{ushr|IN|8}} from 2007 to 2011. In 2010, he was the Democratic candidate for a seat in the United States Senate, but he was defeated by former Senator Dan Coats.

==Early life and education== Ellsworth was born in Jasper, Indiana, the son of Margaret (née Scherle) and Jim Ellsworth.<ref>{{cite web|last=Rothstein |first=Betsy |url=https://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/17907-50-most-beautiful-fallout-rep-ellsworths-mom-questions-her-sons-placement-on-list/ |title=50 Most Beautiful fallout: Rep. Ellsworth's mom questions her son's placement on list |work=The Hill |date=2007-08-01 |access-date=2010-07-12}}</ref> He is the youngest of four siblings. His brother Eric is the president and CEO of the YMCA of greater Indianapolis.{{citation needed|date=January 2020}} His brother Joe is a founding partner and president of Fire & Rain Marketing/Communications headquartered in Evansville.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

Ellsworth graduated from William Henry Harrison High School in 1976. He received a bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of Southern Indiana and was a member of Sigma Tau Gamma. He also received a master's degree in criminology from Indiana State University. Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology gave him an honorary doctorate of humane letters at their 2008 commencement.<ref name="roseDr">{{cite web | url=http://www.rose-hulman.edu/news/articles/2008commencementfinal.htm | title=Rose-Hulman Class of 2008 Encouraged to Help Make a Difference | date = 24 May 2008 | access-date=28 October 2010}}</ref>

==Law enforcement career== In 1982, Ellsworth began working for the Vanderburgh County Sheriff's Department.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

In 2005, he announced that he would be running in the Democratic primary for Indiana's 8th congressional district, which was then held by six-term Republican incumbent John Hostettler.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

==U.S. House of Representatives== [[File:Ellsworth portrait.jpg|upright|left|thumb|Congressman Brad Ellsworth during the 110th Congress]] Ellsworth is a conservative Democrat with a populist streak. He opposes abortion and gun control.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Ellsworth also represented a socially conservative swath of Indiana. However, on economic issues, Ellsworth usually voted more with the Democratic party. {{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} After his election to Congress, he joined the Blue Dog Coalition.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

Ellsworth voted against the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 in January of that year.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/e000289/votes/page10/ |title=Votes by Brad Ellsworth | Congressional votes database | washingtonpost.com |publisher=Projects.washingtonpost.com |access-date=2010-07-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929125055/http://projects.washingtonpost.com/congress/members/e000289/votes/page10/ |archive-date=2012-09-29 }}</ref> He voted for the final version of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll070.xml|title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 70|publisher=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives|date=2009-02-13}}</ref>

He was one of 16 Democrats who voted against providing federal funds for embryonic stem cell research.<ref>{{cite web | title=Final Vote Results for Roll Call 20 | publisher=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives| url=http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll020.xml | access-date=2007-02-20}}</ref>

Ellsworth condemned the National Right to Life Committee for not supporting the extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to cover more families. While Ellsworth voted against an earlier version of the bill, he joined the other nine signatories in voting for the final bill.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071019051747/http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-lash-out-at-activist-group-on-abortion-issue-2007-10-17.html TheHill.com - Dems lash out at activist group on abortion issue]</ref>

In July 2007, Ellsworth designated $2 million to extend the John T. Myers lock chamber on the Ohio River and $750,000 for manufacturing and engineering equipment for the University of Southern Indiana.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}} Two other projects Ellsworth brought to southwestern Indiana were the construction of a campus perimeter road system at USI for $350,000 and a portion of University Parkway construction also at $350,000.{{Citation needed|date=October 2010}}

In November 2009, Ellsworth wrote an amendment restricting federal funding for elective abortions. Americans United for Life asserted that this language does not eliminate the public funding of abortion in the House bill, but instead only requires said federal subsidies to be separately disbursed by an independent contractor.<ref>Americans United for Life: [http://www.aul.org/PR_11-05-09 Rep. Ellsworth’s Proposal Does Not Prevent Abortion Funding in Health Care Reform] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100315053644/http://www.aul.org/PR_11-05-09 |date=March 15, 2010 }}. November 5, 2009. Retrieved November 7, 2009.</ref> Ellsworth later voted for the Stupak Amendment. He eventually voted for the Senate language of the healthcare bill lacking the Stupak Amendment's anti-abortion language.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wcsi.whiterivernews.com/templates/localnews_temp.asp?id=2203&storyno=2 |title=NEWS/TALK 1010 WCSI Radio - WCSI Weather - Columbus Indiana |publisher=Wcsi.whiterivernews.com |date=2010-03-22 |access-date=2010-07-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101229005451/http://wcsi.whiterivernews.com/templates/localnews_temp.asp?id=2203&storyno=2 |archive-date=2010-12-29 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Smaller projects for which Ellsworth gained House approval include $200,000 to restore Evansville's Alhambra Theater, $135,000 for emergency warning sirens in Vanderburgh County and $75,000 to train utility workers at Ivy Tech Community College.<ref>Langhorne, Thomas B., "Is pork Protecting Ellsworth?" Evansville Courier and Press, July 29. 2007.</ref>

===Committee assignments=== *Committee on Agriculture **Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research **Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management *Committee on Armed Services **Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces **Subcommittee on Terrorism and Unconventional Threats *Committee on Small Business **Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology **Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight

==Political campaigns==

===2006=== upright|right|thumb|Parade for Ellsworth {{See also|2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana#District 8}} As of June 30, 2006, Hostettler had raised $287,000 and had $195,000 on hand, compared to Ellsworth's $1,036,000 raised and $676,000 on hand. However, Hostettler had won several campaigns against opponents with more funding than him. In addition, the National Republican Congressional Committee had spent $163,000 in his district as of mid-July 2006. (The DCCC, its counterpart, had spent $166,000 for Ellsworth as of that date.)<ref>Thomas B. Langhorne, [http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/jul/17/hostettler-war-chest-a-little-light-pundit-says/ "Hostettler 'war chest' a little light, pundit says"], ''Evansville Courier & Press'', July 17, 2006</ref><ref>Maureen Groppe, [http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060718/NEWS06/607180456/1006/NEWS01 "Indiana candidates raise big bucks for tight races: $1 million or more in war chest isn't unusual this competitive year, finance reports show"], ''Indianapolis Star'', July 18, 2006</ref>

The Cook Political Report, an independent non-partisan newsletter, listed the race as a toss-up as of mid-August.<ref>[http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_house_comp_aug17.pdf Competitive Race Chart] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061025181833/http://www.cookpolitical.com/races/report_pdfs/2006_house_comp_aug17.pdf |date=2006-10-25 }}, Cook Political Report, August 16, 2006</ref> As of early September, the Rothenberg Political Report called Hostettler one of the three most endangered House incumbents in the country; Chris Cillizza, political analyst for ''The Washington Post'', ranked Hostettler as the most vulnerable House incumbent in the nation; and Robert D. Novak, a syndicated columnist and editor of the Evans-Novak Political Report, also rated Hostettler's seat a likely win for Ellsworth.<ref>Thomas B. Langhorne, [http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/sep/03/hostettler-inactivity-curious/ "Hostettler inactivity curious"], ''Evansville Courier & Press'', September 3, 2006</ref>

In mid-October, an opinion poll commissioned by the ''Evansville Courier & Press'' showed Ellsworth leading Hostettler, 55% to 32%.<ref>Thomas B. Langhorne, [http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/oct/15/ellsworth-widens-lead-in-poll/ "Ellsworth widens lead in poll: ISU questions likely voters in 8th District follow-up survey"], ''Evansville Courier & Press'', October 15, 2006</ref>

Hostettler debated Ellsworth on October 23, 2006. The debate was at public television station WVUT at Vincennes University, and involved the League of Women Voters.<ref>[http://www.courierpress.com/news/2006/aug/30/hostettler-agrees-debate-date/ "Hostettler agrees to debate date"], ''Evansville Courier & Press'', August 30, 2006</ref>

Ellsworth won a landslide victory on November 7, 2006. He took 61% of the vote to Hostettler's 39%, which was by far the largest defeat for a House incumbent in the 2006 election. The seat was the first of 30 to flip from Republican to Democratic in the 2006 cycle.

===2008=== {{See also|2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana#District 8}} Two years later, on November 4, 2008, Ellsworth won reelection, easily defeating Republican candidate Greg Goode 65% to 35%.

===2010 U.S. Senate campaign=== {{see also|2010 United States Senate election in Indiana}} On February 19, 2010, Ellsworth announced his candidacy in the 2010 U.S. Senate election for the seat in the United States Senate held by Democrat Evan Bayh, who was retiring.<ref>{{cite web|last=Trygstad |first=Kyle |url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/politics_nation/2010/02/ellsworth_enters_indiana_senate_race.html |title=Politics Nation - It's Official: Ellsworth Enters Indiana Senate Race |publisher=RealClearPolitics |date=2010-02-19 |access-date=2010-07-12}}</ref> Since Bayh made his announcement the day before the deadline for filing for the primary, no Democrat was able to gather a sufficient number of signatures to qualify for the primary ballot, forcing the Democratic state committee to choose the Senate nominee.<ref name="Cillizza">{{Cite news| last = Cillizza| first = Chris| author-link = Chris Cillizza | title = Evan Bayh won't seek re-election, Senate majority in play?| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = February 15, 2010| url = http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/evan-bayh-to-retire.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100325082246/http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/evan-bayh-to-retire.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = March 25, 2010| access-date =2010-02-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/02/challenger-adds-to-post-bayh-chaos-032990 |title=Challenger adds to post-Bayh chaos |work=Politico |last=Martin |first=Jonathan |date=February 15, 2010}}</ref> Ultimately, the committee chose Ellsworth.

He was defeated in the November election by Dan Coats, who had previously held the seat from 1989 to 1999, taking 40 percent of the vote. Ellsworth even lost his own congressional district; he carried Vigo County (home to Terre Haute) but failed to carry his home county of Vanderburgh.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/files/2010_ELECTION_RESULTS_155618.pdf |title= 2010 Election Results - State of Indiana |publisher= Indiana Election Division |date= 2010-12-27 |access-date= 2014-12-24 |archive-date= 2017-02-23 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170223031043/http://www.in.gov/sos/elections/files/2010_ELECTION_RESULTS_155618.pdf |url-status= dead }}</ref> State representative Trent Van Haaften replaced Ellsworth on the ballot for the 8th, but lost to Republican Larry Bucshon with only 37 percent of the vote. The Democrats have crossed the 40 percent mark in the district only once since Ellsworth left office.

Following his defeat, Ellsworth joined Evansville-based Vectren Corporation as president of its southern Indiana gas and electric utility division.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20110304/BUSINESS/103040364/1003/BUSINESS/Vectren-picks-Ellsworth-division-president |title=Vectren picks Ellsworth as division president |publisher=Indianapolis Star |date=2011-03-04 |access-date=2011-03-04}}</ref>

==Electoral history== {{Election box begin | title= United States House of Representatives General Election, 2006 Indiana's 8th congressional district}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Brad Ellsworth''' |votes = 131,019 |percentage = 61.0% |change = }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = John Hostettler (incumbent) |votes = 83,704 |percentage = 39.0% |change = }} {{Election box turnout |votes = 214,723 |percentage = 46% |change = }} {{Election box gain with party link| |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |loser = Republican Party (United States) |swing = }} {{Election box end}} {{Election box begin | title= United States House of Representatives General Election, 2008 Indiana's 8th congressional district}} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Democratic Party (United States) |candidate = '''Brad Ellsworth''' (incumbent) |votes = 188,693 |percentage = 64.7% |change = +3.7% }} {{Election box candidate with party link |party = Republican Party (United States) |candidate = Greg Goode |votes = 102,769 |percentage = 35.3% |change = }} {{Election box turnout |votes = 291,462 |percentage = 60% |change = }} {{Election box hold with party link| |winner = Democratic Party (United States) |swing = }} {{Election box end}}

{{Election box begin | title = United States Senate General election results, 2010 Indiana's Class III Senate Seat<ref>[http://www.in.gov/apps/sos/election/general/general2010?page=office&countyID=-1&officeID=4&districtID=-1&candidate= Secretary of State : Elections Division: Election Foundation Wide]</ref> }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = '''Dan Coats''' | party = Republican Party (United States) | votes = '''952,116''' | percentage = '''54.60%''' | change = '''+17.37%''' }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = Brad Ellsworth | party = Democratic Party (United States) | votes = 697,775 | percentage = 40.01% | change = -21.64% }} {{Election box candidate with party link | candidate = Rebecca Sink-Burris | party = Libertarian Party (United States) | votes = 94,330 | percentage = 5.39% | change = +4.27% }} {{Election box majority| |votes = 254,341 |percentage = 14.58% |change = }} {{Election box total | votes = 1,743,921 | percentage = 100 | change = }} {{Election box gain with party link | |winner = Republican Party (United States) |loser = Democratic Party (United States) |swing = |change = }} {{Election box end}}

== References == {{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}

== External links == {{commons category|Brad Ellsworth}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20051226062911/http://www.ellsworthforcongress.com/ Brad Ellsworth for Senate] official campaign site * {{CongLinks | congbio=e000289 | votesmart=57497 | fec=H6IN08210 | congress= }} *{{C-SPAN|1021550}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ellsworth, Brad}} Category:1958 births Category:21st-century United States representatives Category:Democratic Party United States representatives from Indiana Category:Sheriffs in Indiana Category:Living people Category:People from Dubois County, Indiana Category:People from Jasper, Indiana Category:University of Southern Indiana alumni