Hill and Sodrel to face off in November

INDIANAPOLIS — Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Sodrel and Democrat Baron Hill won their respective primaries handily Tuesday night, setting up a rematch that has attracted interest from political observers nationally.

With about half of the precincts in the 9th congressional district reporting, Sodrel, the owner of several Jeffersonville transportation companies, was leading first-time challenger Sam Schultz by a wide margin.

Hill, a former congressman from Seymour, was leading with 78 percent of the vote.

Gretchen Clearwater of Bloomington, an active campaigner who could never raise the money she needed for a significant challenge, had 15 percent. She said at mid-evening that she was not prepared to concede.

John “Cosmo” Hockersmith, a first-time candidate from Vallonia, had 3 percent, and Lendall Terry of Versailles had 4 percent.