Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) defeated eight Republican rivals in Tuesday’s Indiana congressional primary after earlier announcing plans to retire from the House.
The Ukrainian-born congressman won the 5th District election with 39% of the vote, while his primary challenger, state Rep. Chuck Goodrich, received 33% support. None of Spartz’s other seven challengers received more than 10% of his support.
“My victory in this election is a testament to the American people and my fellow Hoosiers that money and lies cannot buy elections,” Spartz said in a statement, according to the Associated Press.
Goodrich had loaned the campaign about $4.6 million 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 She has announced that she will not seek a third term in the House.
Almost a year later, she put aside her retirement plans and entered Indiana’s 5th District primary late, citing “the importance of these difficult times.”
The Spartz district, which includes Indianapolis’ northern suburbs, is considered a safe seat for Republicans in the 2024 general election.
She is scheduled to face Tuesday’s Democratic primary winner Deborah Pickett in November.
Meanwhile, Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) has come out on top in a crowded and expensive race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb.
Brown, who was endorsed by former President Donald Trump, beat his closest of five rivals, Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, by more than 17 points.
Six Republican gubernatorial campaigns spent about $40 milliona record of campaign spending in Indiana’s primary elections.
Brown will face off against Jennifer McCormick, the state’s former superintendent of public instruction, in November. McCormick ran unopposed in the state’s Democratic primary.
In other notable state races, Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) won decisively in the 4th District primary and will face Democrat Derrick Holder in November. , was secured by Congressman Jim Banks (R-Indiana), who ran unopposed. Republicans nominated to replace Brown in the Senate.
Banks, who was endorsed by President Trump, is scheduled to run against Democratic candidate psychologist Valerie McCray in the fall general election.
Republican candidates are seen as heavy favorites in both the gubernatorial and Senate races.
