Brad Ellsworth

In the blue wave of 2006, Ellsworth ousted Rep. John Hostettler (R-Ind.) in what was the cycle's most lopsided defeat for an incumbent. Then a sheriff, Ellsworth ran as an outsider seeking to shake up Washington and highlighted his socially-conservative positions. He gained national prominence when his success was framed as evidence that national Democratic victories were powered by conservative candidates able to neutralize Republican attacks by moving to the right on "moral issues."

Now a member of the moderate Blue Dog Coalition, Ellsworth has assembled a conservative voting record and a history of breaking rank with his party on key votes. In 2007, he was one of 16 Democrats to vote against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act;in 2009, he was one of 11 Democrats to oppose the first version of President Obama's economic stimulus bill.

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