Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz won her hard-fought Republican primary for her 5th District seat in northeastern Indianapolis suburbs, according to CNN projections. Despite initially stating that she would not seek reelection in 2023, Spartz reversed her decision just before February’s filing deadline. She faced eight challengers, including state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, who outspent her. Spartz has been an advocate for US support for Ukraine, but last month she voted against a $95 billion foreign aid package that included backing for Ukraine, leading to accusations from Goodrich that she puts “Ukraine first.” In turn, Spartz’s campaign claimed that Goodrich “puts China first to get rich,” despite Goodrich actually voting in favor of a measure banning Chinese companies from buying Indiana farmland.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump each won their respective presidential primaries in Indiana on Tuesday, according to CNN projections. In the race to be Indiana’s next governor, CNN projected that Sen. Mike Braun will win the Republican primary. Braun, the best-known contender among six seeking to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, will face Democratic former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick in November. Indiana has had a Republican governor since 2004, and despite Democratic victories in recent memory, the state has shifted right since 2016, making Braun a heavy favorite in the general election.
Braun’s gubernatorial campaign leaving his Senate seat open resulted in Rep. Jim Banks advancing to November’s Senate general election after being unopposed in the Republican primary. Banks, a Donald Trump ally, was endorsed by the former president and will be the heavy favorite in November. He first won election to the House in 2016 and overcame a hurdle to the GOP gubernatorial nomination when former Gov. Mitch Daniels opted against a run. Banks will face Democrat Valerie McCray, a clinical psychologist, in the Senate race.
Spartz first won the 5th District seat in 2020 when Democratic gains in the suburbs made it a battleground. However, redistricting controlled by Indiana’s Republican-dominated state legislature turned the seat into safe GOP territory. In the gubernatorial race, Braun is the heavy favorite over McCormick, who switched parties from Republican to Democrat in 2021. The state has trended Republican since 2016, with Braun looking to continue this trend as the GOP candidate. Banks, also a strong Trump ally, is expected to win the Senate race against McCray, further solidifying Republican control in Indiana.
The primary results in Indiana saw victories for both President Biden and former President Trump, reflecting the divided political landscape in the state. Spartz’s win in the Republican primary for her seat in the 5th District underscores the intensity of the campaign, with both candidates accusing each other of prioritizing foreign interests over American ones. The upcoming general election will feature several key races in Indiana, with Republicans expected to maintain their dominance in the state. Braun, Banks, and other GOP candidates are well-positioned to succeed in November, maintaining the Republican stronghold in Indiana.
