Indiana’s congressional incumbents held back a slate of primary challengers, despite a few close races Tuesday night.
Among the state’s sitting congressional delegation — which currently includes seven Republicans and two Democrats — six incumbents overcame challengers, while three other representatives faced no primary competition at all.
The winners of Tuesday’s primaries will advance to the general election in November.
Incumbents withstand multiple challengers
In the 4th Congressional District, President Donald Trump-endorsed incumbent Rep. Jim Baird defeated Indiana state Rep. Craig Haggard with 60% of votes as of late Tuesday. Baird has held the 4th District seat since 2019 and is seeking his fifth term in office.
“I’m incredibly grateful to my family and to the dedicated supporters and volunteers who stood with us every step of the way. I also want to thank President Trump for his leadership and unwavering commitment to putting America first,” Baird said in a Tuesday night statement.
“Public service means showing up, doing the work, and delivering results, no matter the circumstances,” he added, referencing the recent death of his wife. “That commitment never wavers. I’m proud to continue fighting for the conservative values that matter to Hoosiers: securing our border, restoring energy independence, reining in spending, and ensuring government works for the people, not against them.”
Haggard, of Mooresville, is rounding out his second term at the Statehouse, having first been elected in 2022. He earned more than 100 endorsements and was backed by county commissioners and councilors, mayors, prosecutors, sheriffs and Indiana’s attorney general, who previously held the seat.
Congressional hopeful Drew Cox finished ahead of four other Democrats and will face Baird on the November ballot.
A Tuesday night win by incumbent Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan set up what’s expected to be Indiana’s tightest general election congressional contest. He was countered by former Gary City Parks Director LaVetta Sparks-Wade.
Republican Barb Regnitz overcame two other challengers on the GOP ticket and will take on Mrvan in the general election later this year.
Separately, in the 7th Congressional District, U.S. Rep. André Carson faced a multi-candidate Democratic primary but sailed over attorney and U.S. Army Reserve member Destiny Wells, as well as two other challengers, George Hornedo and Denise Hatch. Early election night returns showed Carson earning more than 63% of votes; Wells trailed second with roughly 23%.
“Thanks to the power of people and prayer, we’re one step closer to defeating attacks on our rights, our economy, and our democracy. I never take anything for granted, and I’m proud of the work we put into this race,” Carson said in a late Tuesday statement. “Under Democratic leadership, the economy was strong, and more people than ever could afford healthcare. This November, Democrats have the chance to regain the House majority and build on the progress we started. This race has never been about me. It’s always been about we.”
The district which encompasses much of Indianapolis has long been a Democratic stronghold. Carson has represented the district since 2008, following the death of his grandmother, former Rep. Julia Carson.
Wells entered the race just before the filing deadline in February but got statewide name recognition from recent unsuccessful general election bids for attorney general and secretary of state.
Patrick McAuley, the Republican ticket winner, will face Carson in November.
A tighter win expected for Shreve
In the neighboring 6th Congressional District, which spans 11 counties across central and eastern Indiana, incumbent Republican Rep. Jefferson Shreve forged closer to a second term at 53% — just roughly 3,000 more votes than his single primary challenger, Sarah Brown, according to initial results late Tuesday.
Jefferson Shreve addresses supporters at a rally ob Oct. 26, 2024, in Greenwood, Indiana. (Casey Smith/Indiana Capital Chronicle)
Cynthia “Cinde” Wirth additionally bested three other Democrats in the 6th District to earn the party’s nomination. The November election will be Wirth’s second square-off with Shreve — she lost to the congressman by more than 30 percentage points in the 2024 general election.
Shreve won the traditionally Republican seat in 2024 after Rep. Greg Pence did not seek reelection. He previously served on the Indianapolis City-County Council and ran an unsuccessful bid for Indianapolis mayor in 2023.
The 5th Congressional District, one of the state’s more closely watched in recent cycles, again drew a slew of candidates vying for the nomination.
But Tuesday’s race was a far cry from the 2024 primary, when incumbent GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz reversed her decision not to run just before the filing deadline and subsequently defeated eight fellow Republicans.
Spartz prevailed again on Tuesday in a contest against just one Republican challenger, Scott King. Initial election night returns put Spartz ahead by more than 11,000 votes, at 59.9%.
Democrats tee up for November
In the 5th District’s more crowded Democratic field, state Sen. J.D. Ford earned top votes — roughly 42% as of late Tuesday — over four other primary ticket opponents.
“I am truly grateful to every Hoosier who showed up, made their voice heard and believed in what we are building together,” Ford said in a victory statement. “This campaign has always been about people. It has been about listening, showing up and fighting for families who feel like Washington has stopped working for them. Tonight is proof that when people come together, they can take their power back.”
Democrat J.D. Ford has represented state Senate District 29 in Indianapolis since 2018 and is seeking to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz in the 5th Congressional District. (Photo courtesy Ford’s campaign)
“I have earned the trust of voters who were told their voices did not matter and proved that this district is not locked in for anyone,” he continued. “We built a coalition strong enough to flip a Republican district once, and now we are building one even stronger to do it again.”
Republican voters in the 3rd District opted to retain GOP Rep. Marlin Stutzman, who prevailed over veteran Jon Kenworthy with more than 66% of votes, according to early election night results.
Stutzman won a seven-candidate Republican primary in 2024, returning him to Congress after initially serving three terms from 2010 to 2016. Kenworthy also ran in the last election cycle, earning received about 4% of votes.
Democratic voters in the northeast Indiana district had only Kelly Thompson, a concrete company owner and at-risk youth nonprofit leader, on the ballot.
Elsewhere, several incumbents faced little to no opposition in their primaries.
That included Republican congress members in the 8th and 9th Districts — Reps. Mark Messmer and Erin Houchin — who went unchallenged in Tuesday’s competition.
Republican Rep. Rudy Yakym also had no Republican opposition in the 2nd District. As of Tuesday night, Democrat Jamee Decio won over Shaun Maeyens with more than 70% votes and will compete against Yakym on the ballot in November.
Early election results additionally showed a win for Democrat Mary Allen in the 8th District, and a likely win for Democrat Brad Meyer in the 9th District.