House District 70 covers all of Harrison County and portions of Clark, Floyd, and Washington counties in far southern Indiana, along the Ohio River. Corydon -- the state's first capital -- is the district's center of gravity. This is deep-red territory: Trump carried Harrison County with 72.5% in 2024.
The Republican primary pits an 18-year county party chairman with statewide endorsements against a persistent three-time challenger with a libertarian streak. Fluhr has the organizational infrastructure of having built the county party, the endorsements of every major state Republican officeholder, and a campaign chairman in the sitting state senator. Colburn's 31% showing against the incumbent in 2024 gives him a floor, but challenging the party's own chairman is a fundamentally different proposition.
The Democratic primary is a three-way race where all three candidates found substantial common ground at a primary debate on broadband, addiction treatment, farm support, data centers, and the Ohio River. Blessing brings prior electoral experience. Finn brings the deepest resume and military service. Persinger-Andres brings 31 years of teaching and a more centrist framing. The consensus issues among the three Democrats reflect real concerns that transcend partisan lines, even if the district's voting patterns ensure a Republican will represent them.