Indiana Rep. Victoria Spartz has won the hard-fought Republican primary for her 5th District seat based in the northeastern Indianapolis suburbs. Despite previously stating she would not seek reelection, Spartz changed her mind just before the filing deadline. She faced eight challengers, including state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, who outspent Spartz. Despite being an early advocate for US support for Ukraine, Spartz voted against a $95 billion foreign aid package that included funding for Ukraine. Her campaign accused Goodrich of putting China first, but he actually voted in favor of banning Chinese companies from buying Indiana farmland.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both won their respective presidential primaries in Indiana on Tuesday. In the governor race, Senator Mike Braun won the Republican primary to replace the term-limited Republican Governor Eric Holcomb. Indiana has had a Republican governor since 2004, and Braun is a heavy favorite in the general election. He will face Democratic former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, who switched parties in 2021 after her initial electoral success as a Republican.
Braun’s gubernatorial campaign left his Senate seat open, which will now be contested by Rep. Jim Banks and Democrat Valerie McCray. As a Donald Trump ally who received the former president’s endorsement, Banks is considered a heavy favorite in November’s Senate general election. Banks was first elected to the House in 2016 and overcame a challenge for the GOP gubernatorial nomination when Mitch Daniels chose not to run.
In the highly contested primary for the Governor’s race, Indiana Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz will win the primary for the 5th District seat against multiple challengers. Despite Spartz’s previous plans not to seek reelection, she changed her mind just before the filing deadline. She faced criticism for her stance on Ukraine and foreign aid, with opponent Chuck Goodrich accusing her of putting “Ukraine first.” Spartz’s campaign responded by accusing Goodrich of favoring China, although he had actually voted to ban Chinese companies from buying Indiana farmland.
President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump both won their respective presidential primaries in Indiana on Tuesday. In the governor’s race, Senator Mike Braun emerged as the winner in the Republican primary to replace the term-limited Republican Governor Eric Holcomb. Indiana has leaned heavily Republican in recent years, with Braun being a favorite in the upcoming general election. Braun’s Senate seat will now be contested by Rep. Jim Banks and Democrat Valerie McCray, with Banks receiving Trump’s endorsement and projected to win in November. Senator Braun will face Democrat Jennifer McCormick, who switched parties in 2021 after her previous success as a Republican in the Superintendent of Public Instruction role.
Rep. Jim Banks, a Donald Trump ally who was endorsed by the former president, is projected to win the Senate general election in Indiana in November. Banks, who first entered the House in 2016, overcame a challenge for the GOP gubernatorial nomination when Mitch Daniels decided not to run. With a clear path to the Senate general election, Banks is expected to maintain Republican control of the seat. The political landscape in Indiana has been dominated by Republicans in recent years, and the upcoming elections are projected to follow this trend with Republican candidates being favored to win in key races.
