J.D. Ford Defeats Victoria Spartz in Indiana 5th District Election

“We may not win every battle, but WE WILL WIN THE WAR!” U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz declared early Wednesday, hours after The Associated Press projected she had lost her seat in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District to Democratic state Sen. J.D. Ford, WRTV reported.

With 99% of votes counted at 1:03 a.m. Wednesday, Ford led with 134,476 votes over Spartz’s 125,851, according to AP. Shortly after 1 a.m., The Associated Press projected that Spartz would lose her seat in a district the Cook Political Report had rated “Solid R” earlier this year and changed to “Lean R” last week.

Ford declared victory shortly after 10 p.m.

5th Congressional District: Victoria Spartz vs. JD Ford | Live coverage

“This victory belongs to every person who has felt ignored by Washington, every family struggling to make ends meet and every voter who refused to believe that change was impossible. Hoosiers are working harder, paying more and getting less in return.”

The 43-year-old Ford, who won his state Senate seat in 2018 and became the first openly LGBTQ+ member of the Indiana General Assembly, campaigned on affordability and access to health care. Both candidates had called for more government accountability, but they diverged sharply on fiscal policy: Spartz, 48, built her platform on reducing federal spending and debt and changing immigration policies.

Spartz made history herself as the first Ukrainian-born member of the U.S. Congress when she assumed office in 2021. In her post-election statement, she blamed the loss on demographic shifts, claiming that “an influx of liberal voters has turned Hamilton County, once one of the top 20 most conservative counties in the country, blue – with not enough rural Indiana voters to offset those numbers.” She also accused Democrats of significantly outspending Republicans and running “a very dishonest campaign.”

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A District Remade by Suburban Growth

The 5th District stretches across central Indiana, encompassing major cities including Anderson, Carmel, Fishers, Fortville, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie, Noblesville and Westfield. The seat had been a Republican stronghold for decades; the last Democrat to represent the district, Jim Jontz, served from 1987 to 1993 when it covered Hamilton County and surrounding northern Indianapolis suburbs.

The shift reflects broader changes in Hamilton County, which Spartz herself described as having flipped from conservative bastion to blue territory. Political analysts had watched the district tighten throughout the cycle, with the Cook Political Report’s downgrade from “Solid R” to “Lean R” signaling vulnerability just days before voters cast ballots.

Republicans Hold Elsewhere in Indiana

While Spartz fell, Republicans retained control of most of Indiana’s nine congressional districts. Six Republican incumbents and two Democratic incumbents were projected to win reelection. In the 1st District, Democrat Rep. Frank Mrvan won with about 63% of the vote. Republican Rep. Marlin Stutzman took the 3rd District with roughly 54%, while Rep. Jim Baird won the 4th District with about 54%. Rep. Jefferson Shreve secured the 6th District with approximately 56%, and Rep. Mark Messmer won the 8th District with about 55%. Rep. Erin Houchin held the 9th District with 54% of the vote, promising to continue efforts to hold government accountable, lower health care costs and strengthen communities. Democrat Rep. André Carson dominated the 7th District covering Indianapolis with about 70%.

Redistricting Fight Looms Over Statehouse

The election results arrive as Indiana Republicans face pressure over congressional maps. In December, the Republican supermajority in the Indiana Senate voted down a proposal to redraw congressional district boundaries ahead of Tuesday’s midterm election, a decision that perturbed Gov. Mike Braun and President Donald Trump. That failed redistricting effort underscores the high stakes surrounding Indiana’s political geography even as the 5th District shifts left.

J. D. Ford, a Democratic state senator, was elected to represent Indiana’s 5th Congressional District in the House, toppling GOP Rep. Victoria Spartz. https://t.co/5IaJtvOkCQ

— https://x.com/WSJ/status/2117862162072760436

For Ford, the victory comes in a state that has sent only one Democrat to Congress from this region in more than three decades.

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz wrote in a statement that the election was a wake-up call for Indiana, urging her supporters not to get discouraged despite the loss.