Indiana GOP voters chose Rep. Todd Young as Senate nominee

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Indiana Republican voters chose Rep. Todd Young as their U.S. Senate nominee on Tuesday, opting for his pragmatism over a tea party-backed congressman who boasted of his obstructionist stance in Washington.

The GOP primary to succeed retiring U.S. Senator Dan Coats featured increasingly biting exchanges between Young and Rep. Marlin Stutzman even though both campaigned as stalwart conservatives with similar policy platforms.

Despite the intraparty turmoil, Young said he expects Republicans to unify behind him because the race could have national implications as Democrats seek a net gain of four Senate seats to retake the majority from Republicans.

[...] his Democratic opponent said Young is still an ideologue and only looks pragmatic when compared to the most extreme of tea party hardliners.

[...] in the final weeks of the campaign Stutzman found himself in the difficult position after he struggled to explain more than $300,000 in travel and meal charges that were paid for with his campaign fund since 2010.