Republican Contests Dominate Indiana’s May 7 Primaries

Ukrainian-American U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) speaks at a news conference on Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the U.S. Capitol on March 2, 2022 in Washington. Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS—Indiana voters will choose nominees for major executive offices as well as the U.S. Senate in the May 7 primary, but the more challenging races may be for congressional seats being vacated—or almost vacated—by Republicans.

Former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are both on the ballot for Republican voters, though the former president led in polling by 65 percentage points as of March 5. President Joe Biden is unopposed in the Democratic presidential primary.

Hoosiers will also nominate candidates for governor.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) leads a six-candidate Republican field by 34 points in a race that has already consumed more than $35 million.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch is polling a distant second at 10 percent. Former Indiana secretaries of commerce Brad Chambers and Eric Doden are polling at 8 percent each.

Mr. Braun has spent $9.2 million on this contest, Ms. Crouch nearly $4 million, Mr. Chambers $12 million, Mr. Doden $9.2 million, and the others about $600,000.

Also on the GOP ballot are former Attorney General Curtis Hill and political newcomer Jamie Reitenour.

Jennifer McCormick is unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Ms. McCormick held the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction for four years as a Republican, changing her party affiliation after leaving office in 2021.

All three major political rating organizations list Indiana’s governorship as either a “solid” or “safe” Republican seat. The GOP has held the governor’s mansion here since 2005.

US Senate

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) is unopposed in the primary for the Senate seat being vacated by Mr. Braun. Mr. Banks has represented Indiana’s 3rd congressional district since 2017. The former state senator served as a U.S. Navy reservist in the war in Afghanistan.

President Trump, Mr. Braun, and the Indiana Republican Party have endorsed Mr. Banks.

Seeking the Democratic nomination are Marc Carmichael, a retired business executive, and clinical psychologist Valerie McCray. Mr. Carmichael is running on a promise to create good-paying jobs and strengthen the military. Ms. McCray is running on a platform to strengthen mental health treatment in the country.

For the general election, “Jim Banks is probably the prohibitive favorite,” Jim Shella, longtime Indiana political journalist, told The Epoch Times.

In addition to having an advantage in funding and name recognition, Republicans tend to do better here in presidential election years, he said.

On May 7, however, livelier contests are likely to be on the congressional side.

1st District

In the 1st Congressional District, incumbent U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee identified Mr. Mrvan’s seat as vulnerable last year. The congressman retained his seat in 2022, beating his Republican challenger by 5.6 percentage points.

He will likely face a bracing challenge in the fall from one of the three Republicans vying to run against him.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) speaks to reporters as he leaves the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington on July 19, 2021. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Of the three, Randell Niemeyer, owner of a trucking company in the state’s northwest region, has the edge in fundraising, having taken in more than $400,000.

Mark Leyva and David Ben Ruiz are also vying for the GOP nomination. Both ran unsuccessfully in 2022.

3rd District

In the 3rd Congressional District, four of the eight Republican candidates have spent more than $500,000 each vying for the seat to be vacated by Mr. Banks.

Veteran officeholder Marlin Stutzman, who held this seat from 2010 to 2017, has raised and spent more than $700,000 on this race.

Businessman and political newcomer Tim Smith has raised more than $1.3 million. Former Allen County Judge Wendy Davis has taken in just over $1 million. Business owner and state Sen. Andy Zay has amassed nearly $700,000.

Kiley Adolph and Phil Gross are contesting for the nomination in the Democratic primary. Ms. Adolph has a career in nonprofit leadership, while Mr. Gross is a business executive.

5th District

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz announced last fall that she would leave Congress at the end of this term. In February, she changed her mind. Ms. Spartz now faces eight competitors, one of whom—State Rep. Chuck Goodrich—has polled within 3 percentage points of her as recently as March.

A member of the Indiana House of Representatives and owner of Gaylor Electric, Mr. Goodrich has emerged as Ms. Spartz’s main opponent. He is running to advance “conservative principles, personal responsibility, the dignity of every individual, and a truly free market.”

He has outspent his opponent, laying out more than $4 million in this race to Ms. Spartz’s $2 million.

Ms. Spartz has campaigned on an array of conservative issues and is known as a vocal opponent of government spending and an advocate of congressional term limits.

Fellow Republicans Raju Chinthala, Max Engling, and Mark Hurt have also mounted sizable campaigns.

Ryan Pfenninger and Deborah A. Pickett are seeking the Democratic nomination.

The seat has been in Republican hands for more than 30 years.

6th District

Rep. Greg Pence (R-Ind.), the older brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, is not seeking reelection.

Republicans entrepreneur Jamison Carrier, Indianapolis City Council Member Jefferson Shreve, and state Rep. Mike Speedy have all mounted spirited campaigns, spending a total of some $5.5 million on the race. Four other Republicans have their hats in the ring for this reliably Republican district.

Democrat Cynthia Wirth is unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch speaks during a debate organized and hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission on April 23, 2024, in Indianapolis. Darron Cummings/AP Photo

8th District

Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) also opted not to seek reelection. On the Republican side, state senator and business owner Mark Messmer has the funding advantage, having raised well over $750,000.

Physician Richard Moss and Army veteran and civil engineer Dominick Kavanaugh both amassed funding in excess of $500,000. John Hostettler, who held this seat from 1995 to 2007, is also seeking the nomination.

In the Democratic primary, Erik Hurt, Peter Priest II, Edward Upton Sein, and Michael Talarzyk are seeking the nomination.

The 8th District has been a battleground for Democrats and Republicans, having changed hands nine times in 70 years.

Early voting began in Indiana on April 9 and closed at noon on May 6. Polls are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 7 for in-person voting.