GOP incumbents fall to Trump-endorsed challengers in Indiana
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Several Incumbent GOP senators lost their re-election bids Tuesday, falling to Trump-endorsed challengers in districts across the Hoosier state.
The big picture: Their defeats underscore the political risk facing Republicans who opposed President Trump's push to redraw Indiana's congressional districts.
What they're saying: "Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters," Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said in a statement.
- "Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters."
Senate races
District 21: Incumbent Republican Sen. Jim Buck was unsuccessful against his first primary challenger since taking office in 2008, losing to Trump-endorsed Tipton County Commissioner Tracey Powell.
- Buck was one of 21 Senate Republicans who voted against Trump's redistricting plan.
- In November, Powell will face Kirsten Root who was victorious over Joseph Kazlas in the Democratic primary.
Other successful challengers with Trump support were Trevor De Vries beating Dan Dernulc in District 1, Brian Schmutzler beating Linda Rogers in District 11, Blake Fiechter beating Travis Holdman in District 19, and Michelle Davis beating Greg Walker in District 41.
Yes, but: Sen. Greg Goode, who was targeted in a "swatting" incident in November after criticizing redistricting efforts, beat challenger Brenda Wilson to maintain his District 38 seat.
- "Folks here in Western Indiana, we made it about the district and at the same time blocked out all the noise and all of the drama while we did the work," Goode told Indiana Public Media.
District 29: A crowded field of candidates for Democrat J.D. Ford's vacated seat has been narrowed down to two.
- Kristina Moorhead beat Demetrice Hicks, David W. Greene Sr. and Kevin Short in the Democratic primary.
- Moorhead, a former state Medicaid Deputy Director, has spent more than two decades in health policy and made healthcare, affordability and public education central in her campaign.
- Former state senator John Ruckelshaus narrowly defeated Mike Delph — who represented this district from 2005 to 2018 — and V. Roni Ford in the GOP primary.
District 31: Marion County Sheriff Kerry Forestal will try to flip the district as the last candidate standing in a field of Democrats that included Catherine Torzewski, Lasima Packett and Andrew Dezelan.
- Juanita Albright earned the GOP nomination over Tiffanie Ditlevson, Travis Hankins and Jan Kepley Keefer.
- The seat was left open by Kyle Walker, another Republican who voted against redistricting and declined to run for reelection.
District 46: With Andrea Hunley running for Indianapolis mayor, IPS Commissioner Allissa Impink was the Democrat chosen to rep the district unopposed over activist Clif Marsiglio and first-time candidate Sam Glynn.
- "This victory belongs to the volunteers who knocked on doors in the cold and rain, to my family and my husband who have supported me in every way, to my team who kept believing in me, and to the families that shared their stories and vision for District 46," Impink said in a statement.
House races
District 94: The caucus floor leader Cherrish Pryor, who has been in office since 2008, easily defeated challenger André Sisk Sr and will run unopposed in November.
District 95: Rep. John L. Bartlett emerged victorious over Indianapolis City-County Councilor Keith Graves and Lawrence Common Council member Tyrrell Giles.
- He is running unopposed in November.
District 97: Incumbent Democrat Rep. Justin Moed's night was a repeat of his 2024 primary experience: defeating Sarah Shydale.
- Moed will face Libertarian Mark Renholzberger in November.