Tuesday’s state and congressional primaries in Indiana will see a large turnout of voters, with the GOP primary contests dominating the field.
In the general election scheduled for November, the winners of the open Republican primary for the Senate and governor will have the advantage.
Moreover, the gubernatorial contest offers an early litmus test for the endorsement of former President Donald Trump.
Additionally, three ruby-red House seats are up for grabs in the Indiana primary, and the winners will probably represent the GOP in Congress the following year.
Additionally, a Republican congresswoman is up against opposition from the right that is partially focused on helping Ukraine.
There is only one competitive House contest in Indiana for the general election, involving three Republicans vying to unseat Democratic Representative Frank Mrvan.
All across the state, which is partially in the Central time zone, polls close at 6 and 7 p.m. ET. Here are three events in Indiana to be aware of on Tuesday.
A fight over “America first” Republican Representative Victoria Spartz had announced her intention to retire this year, but she changed her mind just in time to file for a third term in the 5th District, which is located west of Indianapolis.
However, a few Republicans who were vying to replace her remained in the contest.
State Representative Chuck Goodrich, who has mostly funded his campaign on his own, is her main rival.
He has flooded the media with advertisements criticizing Spartz for supporting help for Ukraine and asserting that she does not fully back Trump’s “America First” program.
Born in Ukraine, Spartz was an outspoken advocate for aid when Russia invaded the nation more than two years ago.
However, she has also strongly disagreed with the most recent aid package for the nation and harshly criticized Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the president of Ukraine.
Although there are several contenders in the primary who have the potential to divide the anti-Spartz vote, this contest may serve as a test run to see how GOP primary divisions over Ukraine aid will play out.
An easy victory in testing Trump’s endorsement: In the two open statewide GOP races for governor and the Senate, Trump has chosen a side.
Term constraints prevented Republican Governor Eric Holcomb from seeking reelection, and Sen. Mike Braun’s announcement to run for governor freed up his Senate seat.
The primary for governor is the most important statewide contest on the schedule, and it has seen enormous funding. Trump is supporting one term Senator Braun.
However, he is up against fierce competition from billionaire Eric Doden, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, and former state commerce secretary Brad Chambers.
As politicians and outside organizations battle it out on the airwaves, there has also been a deluge of advertising investment in the election – more than $44.7 million, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
Banks was one of the Republicans appointed to the House’s Jan. 6 committee by then-Republican leader Kevin McCarthy, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi overruled Banks’ appointment.
Banks joined a lawsuit in Texas that was unsuccessful in contesting Joe Biden’s victory in many key battleground states and voted against the certification of the 2020 Electoral College results.
Businessman and farmer John Rust had invested $2.6 million of his own funds in the campaign, but due to his party affiliation, he was disqualified from the race, leaving Banks leading the primary without a challenger.
Two former lawmakers plan to return.
Looking to make a comeback to Congress, two former members of the Indiana House are up against a fierce campaign finance attack from organizations trying to keep them out of districts that lean heavily Republican.
Former Representative Marlin Stutzman is vying to succeed Banks in the 3rd District. Stutzman departed Congress in 2016 to attempt an unsuccessful Senate bid.
Additionally, despite backing from Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul and the political wing of the House Freedom Caucus, Stutzman has encountered some resistance.
Ads against Stutzman have been released by America Leads Action, Inc., an organization that has previously targeted other candidates who support the Freedom Caucus.
Judge Wendy Davis is receiving support from the Women Action Fund, which also runs advertisements in support of female Republican candidates.
According to ad tracking company AdImpact, businessman Tim Smith, who is financing his own campaign, has outspent all candidates and outside organizations on the air.
The conservative Club for Growth Action has also attacked Smith and Davis. Although it did support Stutzman during his 2016 Senate campaign, the group’s PAC has not endorsed anyone in this election.
Republican Rep. Larry Bucshon is retiring, and a large field of contenders is vying for his seat in Indiana’s 8th District. Since Rep.
John Hostettler departed the House almost twenty years ago, outside organizations involved in the contest have mostly concentrated on him.
America Leads Action and the Republican Jewish Coalition, two pro-Israel organizations, have taken issue with Hostettler.
However, a super PAC connected to Paul, which featured in an advertisement endorsing the former congressman, has also given Hostettler some airtime.
Rather, state senator Mark Messmer is receiving assistance from the Republican Jewish Coalition and an affiliated super PAC.
Dominick Kavanaugh, an Army Reserve, and surgeon Richard Moss are among the other top fundraisers.
In Indiana’s red 6th District, where Republican Representative Greg Pence is retiring, Republicans will also probably choose a new representative to The Congress.
AdImpact reports that while outside organizations abstained from the primary, self-funding candidates, such as businessman Jamison Carrier, state representative Mike Speedy, and former Indianapolis City Council member Jefferson Shreve, flooded the airways.