Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) defeated eight Republican rivals in Tuesday’s Indiana congressional primary after previously announcing plans to retire from the House of Representatives.
The Ukrainian-born House lawmaker eked out a win in her 5th District race, receiving 39% of the vote while her top opponent, state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, garnered 33% support. None of Spartz’s seven other challengers received more than 10% support.
“My victory in this election is a testament to the American people and my fellow Hoosiers that money and lies do not buy elections,” Spartz said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
Goodrich had loaned his campaign some $4.6 million in his bid to unseat Spartz.
“I am honored to represent Indiana and ready to get back to work to get our great Republic back on track,” she added.
Spartz, 45, announced in February 2023 that she would not seek a third term in the House.
Almost a year later, she set aside her retirement plan, citing the “significance of these challenging times,” and became a late-entry in Indiana’s 5th District primary contest.
Spartz’s district, which includes the northern suburbs of Indianapolis, is considered a safe seat for Republicans in the 2024 general election.
She will face Deborah Pickett, Tuesday’s Democratic primary winner, in November.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) came out on top in the crowded and expensive race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Braun, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, topped his closest of five rivals, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, by more than 17 percentage points.
The six Republican gubernatorial campaigns spent roughly $40 million, a record for campaign spending in an Indiana primary.
Braun will square off against Jennifer McCormick, the state’s former superintendent of public instruction, in November. McCormick ran uncontested in the state’s Democratic primary.
In other notable state races, Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) decisively won his 4th District primary race and will face Democrat Derrick Holder in November, and Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.), who ran unopposed, secured the GOP nomination to succeed Braun in the Senate.
Banks, endorsed by Trump, will face psychologist Valerie McCray, the Democratic nominee, in the fall general election.
The Republican candidates are considered heavy favorites in both the gubernatorial and Senate races.
