Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2024

2026 → ← 2022
Indiana's 5th Congressional District
Democratic primary Republican primary General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 9, 2024
Primary: May 7, 2024 General: November 5, 2024
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Voting in Indiana
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican DDHQ and The Hill: Safe Republican Inside Elections: Solid Republican Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
U.S. Senate battlegrounds U.S. House battlegrounds Federal and state primary competitiveness Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2024
See also
Indiana's 5th Congressional District U.S. Senate • 1st • 2nd • 3rd • 4th • 5th • 6th • 7th • 8th • 9th Indiana elections, 2024 U.S. Congress elections, 2024 U.S. Senate elections, 2024 U.S. House elections, 2024 Alabama U.S. House racesAlaska U.S. House racesArizona U.S. House racesArkansas U.S. House racesCalifornia U.S. House racesColorado U.S. House racesConnecticut U.S. House racesDelaware U.S. House racesFlorida U.S. House racesGeorgia U.S. House racesHawaii U.S. House racesIdaho U.S. House racesIllinois U.S. House racesIndiana U.S. House racesIowa U.S. House racesKansas U.S. House racesKentucky U.S. House racesLouisiana U.S. House racesMaine U.S. House racesMaryland U.S. House racesMassachusetts U.S. House racesMichigan U.S. House racesMinnesota U.S. House racesMississippi U.S. House racesMissouri U.S. House racesMontana U.S. House racesNebraska U.S. House racesNevada U.S. House racesNew Hampshire U.S. House racesNew Jersey U.S. House racesNew Mexico U.S. House racesNew York U.S. House racesNorth Carolina U.S. House racesNorth Dakota U.S. House racesOhio U.S. House racesOklahoma U.S. House racesOregon U.S. House racesPennsylvania U.S. House racesRhode Island U.S. House racesSouth Carolina U.S. House racesSouth Dakota U.S. House racesTennessee U.S. House racesTexas U.S. House racesUtah U.S. House racesVermont U.S. House racesVirginia U.S. House racesWashington U.S. House racesWest Virginia U.S. House racesWisconsin U.S. House racesWyoming U.S. House racesSubmit

All U.S. House districts, including the 5th Congressional District of Indiana, held elections in 2024. The general election was November 5, 2024. The primary was May 7, 2024. The filing deadline was February 9, 2024. The outcome of this race affected the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress. All 435 House districts were up for election.

At the time of the election, Republicans held a 220-212 majority with three vacancies. As a result of the election, Republicans retained control of the U.S. House, winning 220 seats to Democrats' 215. To read more about the 2024 U.S. House elections, click here.

In the 2022 election in this district, the Republican candidate won 61.1%-38.9%. Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Donald Trump (R) would have defeated Joe Biden (D) 57.0%-41.0%.

For more information about the primaries in this election, click on the links below:

• Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (May 7 Democratic primary)
• Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (May 7 Republican primary)

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Victoria Spartz defeated Deborah A. Pickett, Robby Slaughter, and Lauri Shillings in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Spartz (R)	56.6	203,293
		Deborah A. Pickett (D)	38.0	136,554
		Robby Slaughter (Independent)	2.7	9,790
		Lauri Shillings (L)	2.7	9,567

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 359,204
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Deborah A. Pickett defeated Ryan Pfenninger in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 7, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Deborah A. Pickett	59.5	11,858
		Ryan Pfenninger	40.5	8,082

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 19,940
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeremy Lee Edom (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 7, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Spartz	39.1	31,674
		Chuck Goodrich	33.2	26,865
		Max Engling	9.7	7,841
		Raju Chinthala	7.1	5,742
		Mark Hurt	5.5	4,431
	Submit photo	Larry L. Savage Jr.	1.9	1,569
		Matthew Peiffer	1.7	1,379
		Patrick Malayter	1.0	800
		Lonnie Powell	0.9	729

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 81,030
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Scott King (R)
• Scott Goad (R)
• Rodney Cummings (R)
• Jonathan Brown (R)

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles that may be created in one of two ways: either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey, or Ballotpedia staff may compile a profile based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements after identifying the candidate as noteworthy. For more on how we select candidates to include, click here.

Victoria Spartz

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

• U.S. House Indiana District 5 (Assumed office: 2021)
• Indiana State Senate District 20 (2017–2020)

Biography:  Spartz obtained a bachelor's and a master's degree from the National University of Economics in Ukraine and a master's degree from Indiana University's Kelley School of Business. Before entering elected politics, Spartz worked as a financial executive and as a farmer, taught at Indiana University, and worked in the office of the Attorney General of Indiana.

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Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

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Spartz said growing up in the Soviet Union had shaped her political philosophy, which she described as "limited government is always better, and financial and healthcare decisions should be made by individuals in the free market, not bureaucrats and special interests."

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Spartz said she had delivered results during her time in office. Her campaign website said: "In an era of politicians with sound bites, Congresswoman Spartz is a policy leader who is already make a legislative difference even in her first two terms—12 bills signed into law and many policies developed from scratch."

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Spartz said she was running for a third term because there was more she wanted to do in Washington.

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Show sources

Sources: Victoria Spartz 2024 campaign website, "About Victoria," accessed April 10, 2024; Victoria Spartz 2024 campaign website, "Spartz will file for reelection," February 5, 2024; Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, "SPARTZ, Victoria," accessed April 10, 2024

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Indiana District 5 in 2024.

Deborah A. Pickett

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a former U.S. Army Reservist, prior staff member with the Hudson Institute who worked on international trade and economic studies, and a community activist who has served on numerous boards and committees over the decades. My military experience with the 55th Medical Detachment and then with the 21st Support Command has given me insight into the many challenges facing military personnel and their families, as well as the complexity and lethality of the battlefield. Several generations of my family, including my daughter, have served in the U.S. Armed Forces with reverence for the principles outlined in the U.S. Constitution and love for our magnificent country. My appreciation for how interconnected and dependent we are on our international partners for markets and collaboration arises from my research at Hudson Institute, as does my understanding for the need to support and finance military alliances with foreign allies to maintain stability and peace around the world. Americans benefit immensely from these relationships and commitments that extend beyond our borders. Over the years, I have served on many different community boards and committees and dealt with a range of issues including financial management and oversight, ethical dilemmas, nursing care, parental representation on school committees, wetland mitigation, zoning and development disputes, and neighbor tensions. I am married to Neil Pickett and we have three children and four grandchildren."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Since all rights arise from the U.S. Constitution, my first priority is to protect and preserve our democratic republic and U.S. Constitution. Many of our elected officials continue to show loyalty to a president who repeatedly violated the U.S. Constitution, tried to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election and has repeatedly attacked the judicial system. I plan to serve in the US Congress with integrity and fealty to the U.S. Constitution and with deep appreciation for the rule of law and the principles of freedom and liberty responsible for our country's innovation and prosperity.

---

My second priority is my commitment to protecting our personal rights which have been under attack at the federal and state levels. I will work to codify a woman's right to an abortion. If the world were a perfect place, all men were loyal, financial resources were always secure, no acts of sexual violence occurred, good judgment prevailed all the time, and pregnancies were free from complications, we would not be having this discussion. This is not the case. We are a country that believes in personal freedom and personal responsibility. Therefore these personal decisions should be made in private without government interference and between a woman and her doctor. Government does not belong in the private lives of its citizens.

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My third priority is to work to make our federal government more efficient and effective for Hoosiers and Americans, and to fund it without gamesmanship for the longterm. This means that our federal agencies are well- staffed with the expertise to devise smart solutions on our behalf and reduce program redundancies. It also means that agencies have the equipment and software to deliver services promptly and without security risk to the public. An efficient government delivers on its financial promises to hardworking Hoosiers and ensures that programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are funded. An efficient government also makes sure that humanitarian and military commitments are funded and delivered in a timely manner.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Indiana District 5 in 2024.

Lauri Shillings

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I am a life-long Hoosier with working-class roots who has become exhausted by the disconnect between our federal government and its people. I have over 20 years of leadership experience in business ownership, and career experience in media, marketing, and educational organizations. Lauri learned from a very young age the value of civic service and dedication to community. Her wish is to represent regular voters and their needs, not corporations, life-long politicians, or the elite."

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

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Fiscal Responsibility by: Implementing sound financial management practices to maintain balanced budgets. Advocate for cutting spending on programs that do not directly benefit our population as a whole. Refuse special interests lobbying that try to gain favor through government contracts. Implement a strategy to balance the national budget and reduce national debt.

---

Community Health and Wellness that includes: Affordable and accessible healthcare for all. Ensure that healthcare decisions are not at the discretion of the government, religious groups, or insurance stockholders. Support the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. Guarantee comprehensive healthcare access, including women's health services.

---

Individual Choice: Individuals engaging in activities that may run counter to our personal beliefs. Outside of obvious criminal offenses such as assault, theft, or murder, it is not the role of the government in a free society to prohibit such behavior, even when the majority wants it to be. For this reason, activities such as abortion, drug use, education, religious beliefs, and personal defense, are the decisions of individual choice and personal bodily autonomy. If you are not hurting anybody or taking their stuff- the government should stay out of it. Your life is your life. It is not the government's job to tell you how to live it.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Indiana District 5 in 2024.

Robby Slaughter

Party: Independent

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Submitted Biography:  "I'm an independent. That means not here to be influenced by political parties or special interests. I've lived in the area for two decades. I owned a small business, I taught college courses, and I've delivered pizzas and waited tables. My wide-ranging experiences have allowed me to interact with people from all walks of life. This is crucial when representing all of the people in the district. Half of all members of Congress are millionaires, which is not representative of the typical American. Nearly all members of Congress are active, lifelong members of their political party. The plurality of Americans (47%) identify as independent. And most members of Congress are career politicians; I am not. I'm a lot more like you then most people who seek this office, which is my greatest strength. Congress is supposed to be the people's house; I am one of the people. More: https://robbyslaughter.com/about-me/?"

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Key Messages

To read this candidate's full survey responses, click here.

---

**The greatest crisis we face is trust.** We no longer trust our elected officials or our government. Without trust, nothing meaningful is possible. And the only way to restore trust is to do the opposite of what campaigns have done: spend time mostly with real people, not rich donors; give up power by instituting term limits, financial reform, and radical transparency in Congress.

---

**Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.** We've been voting for partisan candidates as long as anyone can remember, and it's only led to more corruption and incompetence. It's long past time to put people in office who aren't part of the broken system and who are dedicated to serving our country---not special interests.

---

A bad system will defeat a good person every time. There are a lot of good people in the Republican and Democratic parties, but the nature of our political system is that party candidates spend most of their time navigating the party and their donors instead of serving the people.

This information was current as of the candidate's run for U.S. House Indiana District 5 in 2024.

Voting information

See also: Voting in Indiana

Election information in Indiana: Nov. 5, 2024, election.

What was the voter registration deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 7, 2024
• By mail: Postmarked by Oct. 7, 2024
• Online: Oct. 7, 2024

Was absentee/mail-in voting available to all voters?

No

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot request deadline?

• In-person: Oct. 24, 2024
• By mail: Received by Oct. 24, 2024
• Online: Oct. 24, 2024

What was the absentee/mail-in ballot return deadline?

• In-person: Nov. 5, 2024
• By mail: Received by Nov. 5, 2024

Was early voting available to all voters?

Yes

What were the early voting start and end dates?

Oct. 8, 2024 to Nov. 4, 2024

Were all voters required to present ID at the polls? If so, was a photo or non-photo ID required?

N/A

When were polls open on Election Day?

6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. (EST/CST)

Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Expand all | Collapse all

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Since all rights arise from the U.S. Constitution, my first priority is to protect and preserve our democratic republic and U.S. Constitution. Many of our elected officials continue to show loyalty to a president who repeatedly violated the U.S. Constitution, tried to overturn the legitimate results of the 2020 presidential election and has repeatedly attacked the judicial system. I plan to serve in the US Congress with integrity and fealty to the U.S. Constitution and with deep appreciation for the rule of law and the principles of freedom and liberty responsible for our country's innovation and prosperity.

My second priority is my commitment to protecting our personal rights which have been under attack at the federal and state levels. I will work to codify a woman's right to an abortion. If the world were a perfect place, all men were loyal, financial resources were always secure, no acts of sexual violence occurred, good judgment prevailed all the time, and pregnancies were free from complications, we would not be having this discussion. This is not the case. We are a country that believes in personal freedom and personal responsibility. Therefore these personal decisions should be made in private without government interference and between a woman and her doctor. Government does not belong in the private lives of its citizens.

My third priority is to work to make our federal government more efficient and effective for Hoosiers and Americans, and to fund it without gamesmanship for the longterm. This means that our federal agencies are well- staffed with the expertise to devise smart solutions on our behalf and reduce program redundancies. It also means that agencies have the equipment and software to deliver services promptly and without security risk to the public. An efficient government delivers on its financial promises to hardworking Hoosiers and ensures that programs like Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are funded. An efficient government also makes sure that humanitarian and military commitments are funded and delivered in a timely manner.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Fiscal Responsibility by:

Implementing sound financial management practices to maintain balanced budgets. Advocate for cutting spending on programs that do not directly benefit our population as a whole. Refuse special interests lobbying that try to gain favor through government contracts. Implement a strategy to balance the national budget and reduce national debt.

Community Health and Wellness that includes: Affordable and accessible healthcare for all. Ensure that healthcare decisions are not at the discretion of the government, religious groups, or insurance stockholders. Support the legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. Guarantee comprehensive healthcare access, including women's health services.

Individual Choice: Individuals engaging in activities that may run counter to our personal beliefs. Outside of obvious criminal offenses such as assault, theft, or murder, it is not the role of the government in a free society to prohibit such behavior, even when the majority wants it to be. For this reason, activities such as abortion, drug use, education, religious beliefs, and personal defense, are the decisions of individual choice and personal bodily autonomy.

If you are not hurting anybody or taking their stuff- the government should stay out of it. Your life is your life. It is not the government's job to tell you how to live it.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

**The greatest crisis we face is trust.** We no longer trust our elected officials or our government. Without trust, nothing meaningful is possible. And the only way to restore trust is to do the opposite of what campaigns have done: spend time mostly with real people, not rich donors; give up power by instituting term limits, financial reform, and radical transparency in Congress.

**Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.** We've been voting for partisan candidates as long as anyone can remember, and it's only led to more corruption and incompetence. It's long past time to put people in office who aren't part of the broken system and who are dedicated to serving our country---not special interests.

A bad system will defeat a good person every time. There are a lot of good people in the Republican and Democratic parties, but the nature of our political system is that party candidates spend most of their time navigating the party and their donors instead of serving the people.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I am deeply passionate about public policy issues that impact the broadest number of people. A well-maintained and well-functioning infrastructure with safe bridges and roads, strong communication networks, and a resilient power grid is critical for businesses and all Americans. I care deeply about clean water, clean air, and clean soil for our communities, and worry about environmental degradation and serious public health issues caused by industrial contamination. Financial regulation and systemic financial risk also interest me given the huge role that private equity funds play in our economy and the rise of cryptocurrencies as investments. Trade agreements and military alliances are critical for U.S. national security objectives.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Reducing governments role in your every day live.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Government waste, incompetence, and corruption.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Throughout my life, I have been inspired by my remarkable grandparents and parents. My paternal grandmother was paralyzed with Polio from the waist down at the age of 35 years old and never did I hear her complain of her circumstances. She was a voracious reader and had a stack of books by her bedside and wheelchair that she was constantly reading. Her love for her six children and many grandchildren was boundless. My mother has undergone numerous cancer treatments over the decades and she has relied on her wonderful sense of humor to get her through the rough periods. My father is still writing and publishing articles for military magazines at the age of 88. My parents unconditional love and enthusiastic support for me and my sisters are the source of great strength and courage for each one of us. If all children were raised feeling loved, appreciated and secure in their home, the world would be a different place.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I look up to leaders that care about people, and those that foster a culture of learning, creativity, and improvement. Most recently, I have been deeply inspired by Brene Brown and her research on the impact of courage, vulnerability, and bravery on personal growth and leadership.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

None of our heroes are perfect people. I look up to the founders of our country, despite their flaws. I look up to leaders in business and industry, despite their greed and misdeeds. I look up to athletes and entertainers, despite their moral failings. I think rather than idolizing someone it is better to express their traits and acts that one admires. I revere Jefferson for his writing and ingenuity; Hamilton for his genius and passion, Washington for his humility and steadfastness.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

The Constitution of the United States and The Federalist Papers. These two documents embody the rigorous debate amongst our Founding Fathers, to design and create a political system and government structure that tames our worst impulses and also allows our best selves to flourish.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

The West Wing, because it's full of characters from all political perspectives who genuinely care about public service, about the rule of law, and about the people our country.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

The most important characteristics for an elected official are personal integrity, courage to stand up for democratic principles and to defy authoritarian actions taken by public officials, curiosity to explore and understand the many dimensions of a policy issue, a desire to listen to one's constituents and represent their concerns and desires in Congress, a willingness to collaborate with others on finding workable solutions to complex problems, and love and concern for community.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Integrity, and servant leadership by serving their voting public, not themselves.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

**Integrity.** That means to be whole and undivided; to have an absolute loyalty to the cause which one professes to uphold. It means to be a person of consistent, upright character. One who is reliable and honest, who is focused on doing what is right and not what is merely popular at the moment or self-serving.

• • Humility.** We must think of others, because public service is for serving the public. Too many elected officials develop an ego that makes them think of themselves as important. It is the work that is important, not the person in the role.

• • Consistency.** When we behave predictably, we give others comfort and confidence. An elected official should be accessible, responsible, and reliable. When citizens reach out to their office they should get a reply. The officials views should not change without significant new information. Their voting and administrative records should reflect a commitment to doing what they said they would do.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I love to bring people together to solve problems. I have courage to stand up for principles and to do bold things. I have an insatiable curiosity to learn and to seek knowledge from others, and I care deeply for my community.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I am determined to accomplish my goals, and want others to succeed along with me. I have fostered a lifetime of continued education in leadership styles, design for problem solving, and the study of sociology to improve my view on why society behaves as it does. I have a keen interest in what patterns of pressure influences human behavior. I understand that one setback doesn't mean failure, it means I have learned one wrong way to accomplish a goal- and there are dozens of ways that It could absolutely still go right.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Caring about people, public speaking, and hard work.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I believe the core responsibilities for a Congresswoman are to understand the issues of greatest concern to her constituents and to know what solutions they seek. I also believe that the complexities and numerous outcomes should be explored, understood and evaluated fully in the process of developing laws and regulations impacting Hoosiers and Americans. Bills and legislation should be crafted so that Americans understand the language, intent and consequences of the legislation. Redundancies and cumbersome, bureaucratic steps should be avoided to prevent confusion and impede efficient actions needed for the public's interest. The legislator should work to ensure government agencies, services, mandates and commitments have the staff, financial resources and sustained funding to efficiently and effectively implement their mission on behalf of the public. Finally, the legislator should ensure the tax structure or method for raising funds is fair, reasonable for the taxpayer, and compels responsible action and compliance.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Passing legislation that benefits the voters in my district. Reduction of government spending at every opportunity to reduce the tax burden on every citizen, and reducing our national debt.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Serve the people, which also means to NOT serve the special interests. Vote with honor and integrity, speak for the voiceless, and be open and accessible to all.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Lauri Shillings (L)

I would like to be remembered as a woman that got things done.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

That anyone can do run for public office, and that everyday people should.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I remember watching the funeral procession of President John F. Kennedy on my great grandmother's black and white tv set and feeling very sad for Caroline and John Jr. who were close to my age of four years old

Lauri Shillings (L)

I remember that there was a bicentennial parade in my tiny hometown of Wingate, Indiana in 1976. I remember having a special half dollar given to me and at the time, I felt rich for having it.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

I remember a lot of things vaguely, such as the Iran-Contra affair. But the most significant event is the 1986 explosion of the Challenger. We watched the launch live from my fourth-grade classroom. It was a time where the work of space exploration was a shared endeavor by all Americans. The event is clear in my mind to this day.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

My first summer job was as a cleaning woman at a facility for boys who were homeless or without reliable family care. I would make the dorm beds, clean the bathrooms with Clorox, mop the floors, and mend holes in their pants. I do not recall seeing stuffed animals, toys or colorful decor. It was a sterile, loveless, joyless, and lonely place for children. I shed many tears that summer and later in my life befriended and helped other children suffering such fates to experience love, fun, affection, support and my attention. These children are now adults with lives of their own and they are still dear to my heart.

Lauri Shillings (L)

My very first job was serving coffee to local farmers early in the morning when I was 14. I kept that job for the summer before I entered high school.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

After high school I worked a summer for a small legal consulting company. The firm provided expert advice in the semiconductor industry for patent lawsuits. My job was to run a microscope, take pictures, and put together collages for the attorneys and engineers. I certainly learned quite a bit about microelectronics, but more importantly about small business culture and operations. Part of my innovation there was to determine ways to automate the software to save time in data retrieval and analysis.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown. It weaves many wonderful elements together and is a book about human courage, endurance, hard work and teamwork during a period of national and global upheaval. Drama and inspiration on many different levels.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Dare to Lead by Brene Brown. It is a great guide to living your values and never sacrificing yourself in the pursuit of your goals.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

I've always come back to Steven Levy's Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution. It's obscure yet excellent. Levy is a masterful storyteller and the characters fascinate me.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

When I was growing up, I loved James Bond and wanted to live his life of adventure, glamour and danger.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Arya Stark. She never gave up.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Sherlock Holmes, except for a few of his vices.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

My Favorite Things. My grandchildren sing it to me when I tuck them into bed.

Lauri Shillings (L)

'Lose Control' by Teddy Swims

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Don't Stop Believin' by Journey

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Being a perfectionist means that sometimes it takes me an inordinate amount of time to accomplish a task.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Overcoming poverty through hard work, education, and tenacity.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

People who do not communicate. I can accept any situation you might be in and any amount of time you need, but if you do not respond to messages, I don't know what to do. Communication is vital in our society, and I want to expand communication with constituents.

What qualities does the U.S. House of Representatives possess that makes it unique as an institution?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

The U.S. House of Representatives is a unique institution because its large and diverse membership represents many different parts of the country and allows for a wide range of viewpoints and backgrounds of Americans to be considered during the policy making process. The House of Representatives gives power to the people. U.S. Representatives are tasked with making the laws by which Americans govern themselves and for raising the taxes and revenues critical for an effective and efficient government that works on behalf of the American people.

Lauri Shillings (L)

The U.S. House of Representatives has frequent elections, allowing for the opportunity for new representation on a regular basis. It also has the constitutional power to control the amount of taxation revenue, all funding policy must originate in the House.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

These are listed in Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. The expressed, limited powers of Congress are what make it unique. It is the opportunity for the people to work together through their representatives to create a more perfect union.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for representatives to have previous experience in government or politics?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Yes, I think previous experience in government or politics is beneficial for representatives. But I also know that is not always possible. I hope that my years at Hudson Institute working on public policy issues, military service, and decades of community activism prepare me well to represent Hoosiers in Congress.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I think that it would depend on each individuals skill set in their current roles, and in their desire to learn more about how our government works to represent their districts.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

No, in fact I think it is detrimental. Government is not a profession, it is an activity of civil society. The best representatives are those that have lived among the people in ways that are consistent with the people. Career politicians are a disservice to the country.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Our greatest challenge as a nation over the next decade will be how to counter the many potentially negative consequences of a complex, interconnected, and global world, when our political leaders lack integrity and moral courage and Americans are divided so deeply. Our democracy and government provide the principles, structure, judicial system, laws, and processes to help us resolve these disputes yet public trust in government and these institutions, as well as respect for political leaders, currently suffer a crises of legitimacy. Our public officials have degraded and attacked the system and institutions foundational for personal innovation, dynamism, and prosperity, and also the means by which we solve our difficult challenges. They have ignored their oaths to serve the public honorably, to perform their jobs with competence, and to condemn lies and falsehoods spouted by self-serving demagogues, thereby giving breath and flame to authoritarian forces. The democratic institutions critical for helping Americans solve problems have been weakened and degraded by those who had sworn an oath to protect them for the public interest. Are Americans willing to stand up for the political system and principles that have been attacked by its own leaders? Are Americans willing to work tenaciously to reclaim the inspiring principles of personal freedom and personal responsibility foundational to our democratic republic? Are Americans willing to come together to solve challenges made more complex with technological advancements, lethal weapons, environmental degradation, ignorance and social malaise? Are Americans willing to understand and take action against the many malicious adversaries who attack our infrastructure that we rely on for clean water, proper sewage disposal, energy, health care and transportation? We have many challenges ahead. Are Americans willing to come together to solve them for the betterment of their families, communities and country?

Lauri Shillings (L)

Our national debt.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

The continued decline of trust in leadership. This is already a devastating issue, but it will be even worse as technology makes it impossible to tell if a person actually said or did what was claimed. In the near future, virtually anyone will be able to deepfake virtually anything in seconds. So why would we believe anything? We must rebuild trust.

Do you believe that two years is the right term length for representatives?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

No. I think the term length of two years for representatives should be extended to four years to allow them to become more competent and experienced representatives. Another downside of the short term lengths is the time taken away from working on behalf of Hoosiers in Congress to campaigning for the next term. The election cycles are too close for the House of Representative and compromise effective governance.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I think that 2 years is a good term length. It allows each elected official time to learn the role and become involved with committees and to fully see their work flourish. I do think that no more than three terms would be best for the House to allow new voices to carry on the work.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Yes, but the ever-expanding campaign cycle is breaking this term length. Members of the House of Representatives start campaigning for their next election almost immediately. This is bad for the country.

What are your thoughts on term limits?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I believe that elections and voters should determine the number of terms that elected officials serve in the House of Representatives and the Senate. However, I do believe that a Congresswoman serving for a one, two-year term for the House of Representatives is insufficient given the many complex policy issues needing attention. It takes time to learn the legislative process, develop collaborative relationships with fellow legislators, and to perform one's duties with competence and expertise. However, I favor term limits for Supreme Court Justices.

Lauri Shillings (L)

There should be term limits for every office, of every branch of government. Every political office should be turned over to a new generation so It can truly represent our citizens over time.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

We must have term limits. They are a terrible idea, but not doing them is even worse. https://robbyslaughter.com/its-not-about-issues/

Is there a particular representative, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

U.S. Representative Lee Hamilton was a true statesman who served Indiana with honor, integrity and competence while working with others from across the aisle.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Thomas Massie

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Here are three: Sam Rayburn, Margaret Chase Smith, and Charlie Wilson. In the case of Rayburn, I find myself impressed by his personal integrity. He wouldn't allow anyone to give him money or gifts. He wouldn't even let lobbyists buy him a meal! Smith was the first person to stand up to Joseph McCarthy. She also advocated for women---especially in the military. Wilson gets credit from me despite his many shortcomings as an avid partier and scoundrel, best shown by his mantra that he could "take his job seriously without taking himself seriously." Wilson worked hard, knew his stuff, and was skilled negotiator.

Both sitting representatives and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I am always humbled by the difficult circumstances and decisions faced by my constituents. One woman told me about her complicated pregnancy and the difficult discussion she had with her doctor regarding the real possibility that he would have to choose between her life or the baby's life. She had two other children who needed their mother and there was no ambiguity about the doctor's choice. Both mother and baby were able to be saved but she was relieved that this horrible situation happened before Roe v. Wade was overturned and restrictive abortion bills were enacted in Indiana. These personal stories remind policy makers of the consequences of their policies and laws on the private and personal lives of their constituents.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I hear the stories told nearly every day from my neighbors, coworkers, and from people I talk to in outreach booths about how distanced they feel from their representatives. They don't feel heard and they feel that government spends tax dollars at a rate that is unsustainable and that they make policy decisions that don't benefit them as a whole. I want to change that feeling in my district.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Hundreds of stories. I am cataloging these on Twitter with the hashtag #peopleonthetrail. People tell me no politician has ever knocked on their door before, much less a candidate for Congress. People tell me about their children, their families, their careers. They mention their time in military service or their work with their church. One particular woman in Fairmount, Indiana, told me about her brother---who once owned the house where I met her. He had passed away and she was the one who found him. She and her son had moved into the place to try and get back on their feet, but all of the problems in the property and the estate made it difficult. And she told me she felt like his ghost was around every corner in the creaky old home.

Tell us your favorite joke.

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

I am a terrible joke teller. Sorry!

Lauri Shillings (L)

I don't really have a favorite, but I do laugh at dad jokes!

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

I can't resist a good pun. Or a bad pun, I congress.

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Not only is compromise desirable, it is necessary for smart policymaking on behalf of Hoosiers and Americans.

Lauri Shillings (L)

Some compromise through diplomacy is necessary to achieve and end that is closer to the desired outcome, as long as it does not increase our national debt.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

Of course it is. Compromise is how all decisions get made when more than one person is involved.

The Constitution says that all bills for raising revenue must originate in the House. What role would this power play in your priorities if elected?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

This is a serious responsibility and should be performed without gamesmanship and with a commitment to sustained financial stewardship.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I would seek to limit the tax burden for citizens at every opportunity to ensure that their tax dollars are going to benefit them, and not foreign interests or special interests groups. I would work to limit spending as much as possible to help reduce our national debt.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

We absolutely must radically reform the budgeting process. Today, most spending is automatically reauthorized without any review by Congress. Agencies make their own decisions and shift funding around to meet their needs without sufficient oversight. The way our government spends money is broken and the American taxpayer suffers as a result.

How should the U.S. House use its investigative powers?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

The U.S. House should use its investigative powers judiciously and only when there is a preponderance of evidence to support an investigation.

Lauri Shillings (L)

The House of Representatives should use its investigative powers as a tool for ensuring government accountability, upholding the law, maintaining transparency, and checking the power of other branches.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

The problem today is that investigations are political instead of purposeful. The work of Congress should be to do investigations that existing judicial and executive bodies cannot do internally because of problems or limitations in their power. But once Congress determines a meaningful structure for investigation, it should be delegated---with frequent oversight---to the appropriate institution within the government. Today, too much of investigation is a form of campaigning instead of getting to the truth.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

I have not sought nor accepted endorsements. We are experiencing a crisis of trust, and key endorsements reinforce the division in our society. To regain trust, candidates for public office must earn the endorsement of voters, not institutions.

What committees interest you?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Agriculture, Natural Resource and Energy. I will be honored to serve on a committee that allows me to learn about and serve my fellow Hoosiers.

Lauri Shillings (L)

foreign affairs, homeland security

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

All of them, of course, but Appropriations, Ethics, House Administration, Judiciary, Oversight and Accountability, and Rules in particular.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Deborah A. Pickett (D)

Financial transparency and government accountability are necessary for a thriving economy and critical for an efficient and effective government that delivers for the people. They are also necessary for establishing public trust in and support for government.

Lauri Shillings (L)

I think that our government has lost it's ability to understand what a budget is, and how it should benefit its people, and not corporations or foreign interests. Public officials should be held accountable for their decisions, and they should represent their constituents.

Robby Slaughter (Independent)

We need 100% absolute financial transparency for elected officials. All areas of government should have all transactions online and searchable, with a possible delay in availability only for matters of national security. Redactions should only be permissible under court order.

Campaign finance

Name	Party	Receipts*	Disbursements**	Cash on hand	Date
Victoria Spartz	Republican Party	$1,982,203	$3,300,532	$258,050	As of December 31, 2024
Ryan Pfenninger	Democratic Party	$110,598	$110,598	$0	As of December 31, 2024
Deborah A. Pickett	Democratic Party	$44,922	$40,146	$1,603	As of December 31, 2024
Raju Chinthala	Republican Party	$300,596	$300,596	$0	As of June 30, 2024
Max Engling	Republican Party	$206,559	$206,559	$0	As of June 30, 2024
Chuck Goodrich	Republican Party	$5,498,329	$5,473,301	$25,028	As of December 31, 2024
Mark Hurt	Republican Party	$176,232	$176,232	$0	As of August 1, 2024
Patrick Malayter	Republican Party	$7,500	$0	$7,500	As of May 30, 2024
Matthew Peiffer	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Lonnie Powell	Republican Party	$45,460	$44,127	$1,333	As of October 15, 2024
Larry L. Savage Jr.	Republican Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Lauri Shillings	Libertarian Party	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Robby Slaughter	Independent	$0	$0	$0	Data not available***
Source: Federal Elections Commission, "Campaign finance data," 2024. This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC). * According to the FEC, "Receipts are anything of value (money, goods, services or property) received by a political committee." ** According to the FEC, a disbursement "is a purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value to influence a federal election," plus other kinds of payments not made to influence a federal election. *** Candidate either did not report any receipts or disbursements to the FEC, or Ballotpedia did not find an FEC candidate ID.

General election race ratings

See also: Race rating definitions and methods

Ballotpedia provides race ratings from four outlets: The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill. Each race rating indicates if one party is perceived to have an advantage in the race and, if so, the degree of advantage:

• Safe and Solid ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge and the race is not competitive.
• Likely ratings indicate that one party has a clear edge, but an upset is possible.
• Lean ratings indicate that one party has a small edge, but the race is competitive.
• Toss-up ratings indicate that neither party has an advantage.

Race ratings are informed by a number of factors, including polling, candidate quality, and election result history in the race's district or state.

Race ratings: Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2024
Race tracker	Race ratings
	November 5, 2024	October 29, 2024	October 22, 2024	October 15, 2024
The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Decision Desk HQ and The Hill	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican	Solid Republican
Larry J. Sabato's Crystal Ball	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican	Safe Republican
Note: Ballotpedia reviews external race ratings every week throughout the election season and posts weekly updates even if the media outlets have not revised their ratings during that week.

Ballot access

The table below details filing requirements for U.S. House candidates in Indiana in the 2024 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Indiana, click here.

Filing requirements for U.S. House candidates, 2024
State	Office	Party	Signatures required	Filing fee	Filing deadline	Source
Indiana	U.S. House	Ballot-qualified party	N/A (only declaration of candidacy required)	N/A	2/6/2024	Source
Indiana	U.S. House	Unaffiliated	2% of total votes cast for the secretary of state in the district in the last election	N/A	7/1/2024	Source

District analysis

Click the tabs below to view information about voter composition, past elections, and demographics in both the district and the state.

• District map - A map of the district in place for the election.
• Competitiveness - Information about the competitiveness of 2024 U.S. House elections in the state.
• Presidential elections - Information about presidential elections in the district and the state.
• State party control - The partisan makeup of the state's congressional delegation and state government.

• District map
• Competitiveness
• Presidential elections
• State party control

Below was the map in use at the time of the election. Click the map below to enlarge it.

See also: Primary election competitiveness in state and federal government, 2024

This section contains data on U.S. House primary election competitiveness in Indiana.

Indiana U.S. House competitiveness, 2014-2024
Office	Districts/ offices	Seats	Open seats	Candidates	Possible primaries	Contested Democratic primaries	Contested Republican primaries	% of contested primaries	Incumbents in contested primaries	% of incumbents in contested primaries
2024	9	9	3	63	18	6	8	77.8%	4	66.7%
2022	9	9	1	49	18	8	4	66.7%	3	37.5%
2020	9	9	2	78	18	9	6	83.3%	4	57.1%
2018	9	9	2	71	18	8	7	83.3%	4	57.1%
2016	9	9	2	51	18	8	8	88.9%	7	100.0%
2014	9	9	0	49	18	7	6	72.2%	6	66.7%

Post-filing deadline analysis

The following analysis covers all U.S. House districts up for election in Indiana in 2024. Information below was calculated on March 19, 2024, and may differ from information shown in the table above due to candidate replacements and withdrawals after that time.

Sixty-three candidates ran for Indiana’s nine U.S. House districts, including 18 Democrats and 45 Republicans. That’s seven candidates per district, higher than the 5.6 candidates that ran in 2022, but lower than the 8.7 candidates who ran in 2020.

Three districts—the 3rd, the 6th, and the 8th—were open, meaning no incumbents ran. That’s the most open districts in an election cycle this decade.

Rep. Jim Banks (R-3rd) did not run for re-election in order to run for the U.S. Senate, while Reps. Greg Pence (R-6th) and Larry Bucshon (R-8th) retired from public office.

Twelve candidates—four Democrats and eight Republicans—ran for the open 8th Congressional District, the most candidates to run for a seat in 2024.

Fourteen primaries—six Democratic and eight Republican—were contested in 2024. Twelve primaries were contested in 2022, 15 primaries were contested in 2020, and 15 were in 2018.

Four incumbents—one Democrat and three Republicans—faced primary challengers in 2024. That's higher than in 2022, when three incumbents faced challengers, but the same as in 2020 and 2018.

Candidates filed to run in the Republican and Democratic primaries in all eight districts, meaning no seats were guaranteed to either party.

Partisan Voter Index

See also: The Cook Political Report's Partisan Voter Index

Heading into the 2024 elections, based on results from the 2020 and 2016 presidential elections, the Cook Partisan Voter Index for this district was R+11. This meant that in those two presidential elections, this district's results were 11 percentage points more Republican than the national average. This made Indiana's 5th the 129th most Republican district nationally.

2020 presidential election results

The table below shows what the vote in the 2020 presidential election would have been in this district. The presidential election data was compiled by Daily Kos.

2020 presidential results in Indiana's 5th based on 2024 district lines
Joe Biden	Donald Trump
41.0%	57.0%

Inside Elections Baselines

See also: Inside Elections

Inside Elections' Baseline is a figure that analyzes all federal and statewide election results from the district over the past four election cycles. The results are combined in an index estimating the strength of a typical Democratic or Republican candidate in the congressional district. The table below displays the Baseline data for this district.

Inside Elections Baseline for 2024
Democratic Baseline	Republican Baseline	Difference
38.0	58.9	R+20.9

Presidential voting history

See also: Presidential election in Indiana, 2020

Indiana presidential election results (1900-2020)

• 5 Democratic wins
• 26 Republican wins

Year	1900	1904	1908	1912	1916	1920	1924	1928	1932	1936	1940	1944	1948	1952	1956	1960	1964	1968	1972	1976	1980	1984	1988	1992	1996	2000	2004	2008	2012	2016	2020
Winning Party	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	D	R	R	R

See also: Party control of Indiana state government

Congressional delegation

The table below displays the partisan composition of Indiana's congressional delegation as of May 2024.

Congressional Partisan Breakdown from Indiana
Party	U.S. Senate	U.S. House	Total
Democratic	0	2	2
Republican	2	7	9
Independent	0	0	0
Vacancies	0	0	0
Total	2	9	11

State executive

The table below displays the officeholders in Indiana's top four state executive offices as of May 2024.

State executive officials in Indiana, May 2024
Office	Officeholder
Governor	Eric Holcomb
Lieutenant Governor	Suzanne Crouch
Secretary of State	Diego Morales
Attorney General	Todd Rokita

State legislature

Indiana State Senate

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	10
	Republican Party	40
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		50

Indiana House of Representatives

Party		As of February 2024
	Democratic Party	30
	Republican Party	70
	Other	0
	Vacancies	0
Total		100

Trifecta control

The table below shows the state's trifecta status from 1992 until the 2024 election.

Indiana Party Control: 1992-2024
No Democratic trifectas  •  Sixteen years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

Year	92	93	94	95	96	97	98	99	00	01	02	03	04	05	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24
Governor	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
Senate	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R
House	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	D	R	R	D	D	D	D	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R	R

District history

The section below details election results for this office in elections dating back to 2018.

2022

See also: Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2022

General election

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Victoria Spartz defeated Jeannine Lee Lake in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Spartz (R)	61.1	146,575
		Jeannine Lee Lake (D)	38.9	93,434

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 240,009
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Jeannine Lee Lake defeated Matt Hall in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jeannine Lee Lake	60.0	10,192
		Matt Hall	40.0	6,799

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 16,991
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Melanie Wright (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Victoria Spartz advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 3, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Spartz	100.0	47,128

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 47,128
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2020

General election

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Victoria Spartz defeated Christina Hale and Ken Tucker in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Spartz (R)	50.0	208,212
		Christina Hale (D)	45.9	191,226
		Ken Tucker (L)	4.0	16,788

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 416,226
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Vernon Moore (Independent)
• Ellen Kizik (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Christina Hale defeated Dee Thornton, Jennifer Christie, Andy Jacobs, and Ralph Spelbring in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Christina Hale	40.8	30,123
		Dee Thornton	27.1	20,049
		Jennifer Christie	18.1	13,345
	Submit photo	Andy Jacobs	13.3	9,817
	Submit photo	Ralph Spelbring	0.8	575

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 73,909
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on June 2, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Victoria Spartz	39.7	34,526
		Beth Henderson	17.6	15,343
		Micah Beckwith	12.7	11,063
		Carl Brizzi	6.5	5,619
		Kent Abernathy	5.6	4,901
		Kelly Mitchell	5.3	4,643
		Chuck Dietzen	4.7	4,071
		Matthew Hook	2.5	2,147
		Andrew Bales	1.5	1,329
		Mark Small	1.2	1,057
		Danny Niederberger	0.8	675
		Victor Wakley	0.5	465
		Allen Davidson	0.5	411
		Russell Stwalley	0.4	379
		Matthew Hullinger	0.4	333

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 86,962
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Watch the Candidate Conversation for this race!

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mark Jay (R)
• Steve Braun (R)
• Jeremy Miner (R)

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Ken Tucker advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on March 7, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Ken Tucker (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
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2018

See also: Indiana's 5th Congressional District election, 2018

General election

General election for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Susan Brooks defeated Dee Thornton in the general election for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Susan Brooks (R)	56.8	180,035
		Dee Thornton (D)	43.2	137,142

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 317,177 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Jeremy Lee Edom (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Dee Thornton defeated Kyle Brenden Moore, Dion Douglas, Eshel Faraggi, and Sean Dugdale in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dee Thornton	53.0	18,073
		Kyle Brenden Moore	23.7	8,077
		Dion Douglas	10.3	3,521
		Eshel Faraggi	7.6	2,583
		Sean Dugdale	5.5	1,860

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 34,114
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Mike Hartley (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5

Incumbent Susan Brooks advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. House Indiana District 5 on May 8, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Susan Brooks	100.0	63,904

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 63,904
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

See also

Indiana	2024 primaries	2024 U.S. Congress elections
Indiana congressional delegation Voting in Indiana Indiana elections: 2024 • 2023 • 2022 • 2021 • 2020 • 2019 • 2018	Democratic primary battlegrounds Republican primary battlegrounds U.S. Senate Democratic primaries U.S. Senate Republican primaries U.S. House Democratic primaries U.S. House Republican primaries	U.S. Congress elections U.S. Senate elections U.S. House elections Special elections Ballot access

External links

• Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

[show]

Indiana's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Jim Banks (R)

Todd Young (R)

Representatives

District 1

Frank Mrvan (D)

District 2

Rudy Yakym (R)

District 3

Marlin Stutzman (R)

District 4

Jim Baird (R)

District 5

Victoria Spartz (R)

District 6

Jefferson Shreve (R)

District 7

André Carson (D)

District 8

Mark Messmer (R)

District 9

Erin Houchin (R)

Republican Party (9)

Democratic Party (2)

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