Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz of Indiana lost the state's 5th Congressional District, with Democrat J.D. Ford winning in a surprise flip, according to the Associated Press call at 1:03 a.m.
Ford took 51.7% of the vote to Spartz's 48.3% with 99% of ballots counted. Spartz, the first and only Ukrainian-born member of Congress, had won her third term in 2024 by 18.5 percentage points and her second term by 22 points, though her first victory in 2020 was by just 4 points. The Cook Political Report considered the race lean Republican before Election Day.
Last December, the state Senate rejected a mid-decade redistricting bill by a vote of 31-19, with 21 Republicans helping 10 Democrats defeat the measure. President Donald Trump criticized the move on Truth Social, saying he was "Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their State, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats." He added that "The Democrats have done redistricting for years, often illegally, and all other appropriate Republican States have done it."
Analysis
Why this matters
- This flip in a previously safe Republican seat signals potential Democratic gains in the 2026 midterms.
- The loss could intensify pressure on Republican state legislators to pursue redistricting in Indiana and elsewhere.
- Spartz's defeat may affect the balance of power in the House of Representatives.
Background
Spartz had been a reliable Republican vote in a district that was not considered competitive before Election Day. The failed redistricting effort, which Trump publicly opposed, was an attempt by Republicans to redraw congressional maps to gain seats. The outcome in Indiana's 5th District could be a bellwether for other races.
Key perspectives
- Donald Trump: criticized Indiana Senate Republicans for rejecting redistricting, saying the state could have gained two more Republican seats and accusing Democrats of illegal redistricting practices.
What to watch
- Whether Ford's margin holds as final votes are counted.
- Any renewed push for redistricting in Indiana or other states following this result.
- How Republican leadership responds to the loss and whether it affects strategy for the remaining midterm races.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedRepublican Victoria Spartz lost Indiana’s 5th Congressional District to Democrat J.D. Ford in a surprise flip.Washington Examiner: “Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), the first and only Ukrainian -born member of Congress , lost Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, a surprise flip by Democratic nominee J.D. Ford.”
- SupportedThe Associated Press called the race for Ford at 1:03 a.m.Washington Examiner: “The race was called for Ford at 1:03 a.m. by the Associated Press .”
- SupportedWith 99% of the vote counted, Ford had 51.7% and Spartz had 48.3%.Washington Examiner: “Ford garnered 51.7% against Spartz’s 48.3%, with 99% of the vote counted.”
- SupportedSpartz was the first and only Ukrainian-born member of Congress.Washington Examiner: “Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-IN), the first and only Ukrainian -born member of Congress”
- SupportedSpartz won her third term in 2024 by 18.5 percentage points.Washington Examiner: “Spartz won her third term in Congress in 2024 by 18.5 percentage points”
- SupportedSpartz won her second term by 22 points.Washington Examiner: “Her margin of victory in 2022 was even larger at 22 points”
- SupportedSpartz won her first term in 2020 by 4 points.Washington Examiner: “she won her first term in 2020 by 4 points.”
- SupportedThe Cook Political Report considered the race lean Republican before Election Day.Washington Examiner: “with the race considered a lean Republican contest by the Cook Political Report prior to Election Day.”
- SupportedThe Indiana state Senate rejected a mid-decade redistricting bill last December.Washington Examiner: “The Indiana state Senate rejected a mid-decade redistricting bill last December”
- SupportedThe bill was rejected 31-19, with 21 Republicans joining 10 Democrats to defeat it.Washington Examiner: “by a vote of 31-19, with 21 Republicans helping 10 Democrats to defeat the measure”
- SupportedTrump criticized the state Senate Republicans on Truth Social, saying they did not want to redistrict their state and could have gained two Republican seats in Congress.Washington Examiner: ““Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their State, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats,””
- SupportedTrump said Democrats had redistricted for years, often illegally, and that all other appropriate Republican states had done it.Washington Examiner: ““The Democrats have done redistricting for years, often illegally, and all other appropriate Republican States have done it.””