Top 6 Races to Watch on Election Night
Indiana Governor's Race: Replacing Mike Pence
Indiana Gov. Mike Pence decided to forgo his re-election campaign to run as Trump's vice presidential nominee, leaving Lieutenant Gov. Eric Holcomb to step up and run for governor against Democrat John Gregg, a state representative.
Although Pence is no longer running, Gregg and his campaign have criticized Holcomb over his support of Pence and his support of some of Pence's more controversial decisions, including signing the state's highly controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which gave businesses and individuals the right to exercise their religious freedoms by declining to take part in same-sex weddings.
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But after the bill came under national scrutiny and protest from activists and major corporations, the bill was later changed to prohibit businesses from discriminating on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
Meanwhile, the Holcomb campaign has distanced itself from Pence and Holcomb has tried to rebrand himself as more LGBT-friendly version of Pence, the Indianapolis Star reports.
Most polls show that Gregg holds the advantage over Holcomb. A Monmouth University poll from earlier this month showed that Gregg holds a 12-percentage-point lead. A Gravis Marketing poll from later in the month showed that Gregg's lead was just 4 percentage points.
Indiana's Senate Race
In addition to its governor running for vice president and a gubernatorial election to replace said governor, Indiana voters will also have to decide who wins the state's open Senate seat, which will be left vacant by the retiring Republican Sen. Dan Coats.
Looking to claim Coats' seat is former Indiana governor and former Democratic Sen. Evan Bayh, who served in the Senate from 1999 until 2011. On the Republican side is Rep. Todd Young, who has represented Indiana's 9th congressional district since 2011.
While Bayh is pro-abortion and has received a 100 percent rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America, Young has been endorsed by the Indiana Right to Life Political Action Committee.
Additionally, Young voted for the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act in May 2015 and the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015.
Heritage Action gave Young a 59 percent rating. While Young is a co-sponsor of the First Amendment Defense Act, he also voted in favor of legislation that prevents federal funds from being given to contractors who "discriminate" based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
According to the Real Clear Politics, the race is currently a "toss up," as an average of polls shows that Bayh holds a 3.7-percentage-point lead.
Nevada's Senate Race: Replacing Harry Reid
With Senate Minority Leader Reid not seeking re-election this election, his open seat comes as Trump and Clinton are locked in a toss up in the state, which could create a down-ballot coattail effect. Clinton has a 1.5-percentage-point lead over Trump in Nevada, according to the polls.
Republican Rep. Joe Heck and the state's former attorney general Catherine Cortez Masto are also locked in a closely contested race, as Real Clear Politics shows Heck has just a 0.4-percentage-point lead over Masto in an average of polls.
Heritage Action has given Heck a 59 percent score on his legislative scorecard.
As Heck proclaims to be pro-life and has voted in favor of the Pain-Capable bill, Masto is supported by Emily's List.
Heck is also a co-sponsor of the First Amendment Defense Act and like Young, voted for legislation that prevents federal funds from being given to contractors who "discriminate" based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
