Democratic gubernatorial hopeful John Gregg hugs a voter – who was wearing the Gregg campaign’s signature mustache – Tuesday at a polling place in Vincennes. Photo courtesy of Bill Stedman.

Republican Mike Pence came to his polling place in Clifford, Ind. on Tuesday with his wife, Karen, and his 18-year-old daughter, Audrey, who was voting for the first time. Photo by Lesley Weidenbener, TheStatehouseFile.com

Pence has been leading in the polls in the governor’s race, although the recent Howey/DePauw Indiana Battleground Poll showed the margin had tightened a bit.

The state’s closest battle appears to be in the Senate race, where Republican Richard Mourdock, the state treasurer, is taking on Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Donnelly of South Bend. The Howey/DePauw poll shows Donnelly has pulled ahead in the race –which has drawn millions of dollars in outside spending – but Mourdock’s campaign officials say they still believe it’s a dead heat.

Mandy Messina, who lives in rural Bartholomew County, said Monday morning she voted for Mourdock, in part because she respects that he opposes abortion, even in the cases of rape and incest. The Republican recently said that he believes God intends pregnancies that occur after rapes.

“I’m a Christian and I stand on Christian basis. Even though that was a hard thing for him to say about pregnancy, I think two wrongs don’t make a right. I thought that was a pretty bold thing for him to say and to stand for him.”

Barbara Walters from Hope said she voted for Donnelly, even though she typically votes for Republicans. But she had been a supporter of incumbent Sen. Richard Lugar, whom Mourdock defeated in the primary.

“I didn’t like some of the things Mourdock said when he was going up against Lugar,” Walters said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen now” with control of the U.S. Senate.

Voters also will be choosing the state’s superintendent of public instruction and attorney general as well as picking which presidential nominee will get Indiana’s 11 electoral votes.

And locally, voters are choosing county officials, lawmakers and school board members.

Writer Lesley Weidenbener is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com