Ellsworth ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate in 2010 and was succeeded by Republican Larry Bucshon in the same election cycle and has since become the first representative of the district to surpass six terms. Although Southern Indiana is ancestrally Democratic, the Democrats in this area are nowhere near as liberal as their counterparts in the rest of the state. Historically, it had a character similar to Yellow Dog Democrat districts in neighboring Kentucky.
Ellsworth tried but failed to win a U.S. Senate seat in 2010 and was succeeded by Larry Bucshon. He is now the first representative of his district to serve more than six terms. Despite Southern Indiana's Democratic roots, the local Democrats are not as liberal as those elsewhere in the state. Historically, this area has a character similar to Yellow Dog Democrat districts found in neighboring Kentucky.