Spartz Beats Back Primary Challenge in Indiana as Banks Claims GOP Senate Nomination

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) arrives to a closed-door House Republican meeting at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 20, 2023. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

INDIANAPOLIS—Republican Victoria Spartz fended off a strong primary challenge in Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District on May 7, a day that saw tight races for the Republicans in two other districts.

In the presidential primary, President Joe Biden was unopposed on the Democratic side. Former President Donald Trump appeared on the ballot with former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, who suspended her campaign on March 6.

Presidents Biden and Trump are the presumptive nominees for their parties, to be confirmed at their respective national conventions this summer.

US Senate

Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) was unopposed in the Republican primary for the Senate seat being vacated by Mike Braun, who is running for governor.

“I have a rock solid fiscally conservative voting record, a rock solid pro-life voting record, and it’s that conservative record that we need now more than ever in the United States Senate,” Mr. Banks said in remarks to supporters on May 7.

Valerie McCray, a clinical psychologist, claimed some 65 percent of the vote in the Democratic primary and will square off against Mr. Banks in November.

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, Mr. Shella said.

5th District

The most notable primary result came in the Fifth District, where GOP incumbent Ms. Spartz withstood an aggressive challenge from fellow Republican Chuck Goodrich.

Mr. Goodrich, a member of the Indiana House of Representatives and owner of Gaylor Electric, entered the race after Ms. Spartz announced in February 2023 that she would not seek reelection. She reversed course one year later, reentering the contest.

Mr. Goodrich may have been aided by opposition among some Republican voters to Ms. Spartz’s support for aid to Ukraine, according to Marty Wood, a precinct committeeman from Fishers.

“Some people associated it with her personally,” Mr. Wood told The Epoch Times, noting Ms. Spartz’s Ukrainian heritage.

Longshot GOP candidate Patrick Malayter of McCordsville criticized Ms. Spartz for her position.

“I’m half Ukrainian myself,” Mr. Malayter told The Epoch Times. “But I’m against continued funding of the war.”

Dan Hazelwood, a spokesperson for the Spartz campaign, rejected the idea that his candidate’s foreign policy hurt her standing with constituents.

“Attacks against her are being rejected by voters for the simple reason that her constituents clearly know and support her commitment to an American First foreign policy of peace through strength,” Mr. Hazelwood told The Epoch Times.

Mr. Goodrich had pulled within 3 percentage points of Ms. Spartz in preelection polling but was unable to close the gap despite outspending her by $4 million to $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 also mounted vigorous campaigns but were unable to gain momentum in the race.

Republican congressional candidate Patrick Malayter greets voters during the Indiana primary election in McCordsville, Ind., on May 7, 2024. Lawrence Wilson/The Epoch Times

Ms. Spartz will face Democratic primary winner Deborah Pickett, a community advocate and researcher for the Hudson Institute, in the general election.

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

1st District

Democratic incumbent Frank Mrvan was unopposed in his First District primary. He will face a November challenge from Randell Niemeyer, who won the GOP nod over two fellow Republicans.

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

Mr. Niemeyer is the owner of a trucking company and has raised more than $400,000 for this race. He defeated fellow Republicans Mark Leyva and David Ben Ruiz, both of whom ran unsuccessfully in 2022.

3rd District

Democrat Kiley Adolph, a nonprofit executive, won the Democratic nomination for this seat, which is being vacated by Mr. Banks.

She will face veteran officeholder Marlin Stutzman in the general election. Mr. Stutzman, who held this seat from 2010 to 2017, narrowly defeated businessman and political newcomer Tim Smith in the Republican primary. State Sen. Andy Zay and former Allen County Judge Wendy Davis also made strong showings.

Mr. Smith had raised more than $1.2 million for this race, Ms. Davis more than $1 million, Mr. Stutzman more than $750,000, and Mr. Zay nearly $700,000.

6th District

Indianapolis City Council Member Jefferson Shreve won the Republican nomination for the Sixth District. Mr. Shreve faced stiff competition from state Rep. Mike Speedy and entrepreneur Jamison Carrier. Bill Frazier also ran.

Voters check in at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in Indianapolis for the Indiana primary election on May 7, 2024. Lawrence Wilson/The Epoch Times

Cynthia Wirth won the Democratic primary unopposed and will face Mr. Shreve in the November race for this seat being vacated by Republican Greg Pence, who opted not to seek reelection.

8th District

State Sen. Mark Messmer won the Republican nomination in the Eighth District, defeating three fellow Republicans, including John Hostettler, who held this seat from 1995 to 2007.

Mr. Messmer will face Erik Hurt, who bested three fellow Democrats to claim his party’s nomination, in the general election. The seat is currently held by Republican Larry Bucshon, who did not seek reelection.

The Eighth had been a swing district for many years but is not considered a safe Republican seat.

Other Races

Incumbents fared well in Indiana’s other congressional primaries.

In the Second District, incumbent Republican Rudy Yakim ran unopposed in the primary election, as did Democrat Lori A. Camp.

Indiana’s Fourth District incumbent, Republican Jim Baird, won handily over challengers Charles Bookwalter and John Piper. Mr. Baird will face Democrat Derrick Holder in the general election.

In the Seventh District, incumbent Andre Carson sailed to victory over two Democratic challengers. Republican Jennifer Pace led Catherine Ping in the GOP contest by 320 votes with 99 percent of votes counted. Ms. Pace died in March, after the deadline for removing names from the ballot.

In the Ninth District, incumbent Republican Erin Houchin easily won renomination over challenger Hugh Doty. Ms. Houchin will square off against Democrat Timothy Peck in the November election.