Indiana voters are heading to the polls to decide presidential and state primaries Tuesday.
Former President Trump (R) and President Biden (D) have locked up their respective parties’ presidential nominations, but both will be on the primary ballots in the Hoosier state. Biden will be the only candidate, and voters won’t have the option to write in their objections.
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who dropped her GOP presidential bid, will still appear on the ballot against Trump.
Trump won the reliably Republican state in the last two presidential elections.
The state does not require voters to register by party.
Governor
Indiana voters face a crowded field when they cast their ballots in the GOP gubernatorial primary: U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who has a lead in the polls and Trump’s backing; Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch; former state Attorney General Curtis Hill; former state Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers; former state economic official Eric Doden; and conservative activist Jamie Reitenour.
Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) is term-limited and has not endorsed any of the candidates. Former Vice President Mike Pence (R), who was Indiana’s governor from 2013 to 2017, also has not endorsed any candidate.
Note: The candidates are on track to top at least $40 million combined in campaign spending during the race — a record for any Indiana primary.
Congress
Indiana Republican voters will be deciding primary candidates for three open, ruby-red House seats and picking who will head into a potentially competitive fight this fall in another.
Rep. Jim Banks (R) is running uncontested in the state’s lone Senate GOP primary as he vies for Braun’s current seat.
Nine Republican candidates are running for the opportunity to face one of five Democrats in the general to replace Banks. The two GOP frontrunners appear to be former Congressman John Hostettler and state Sen. Mark Messmer.
Eight candidates in the GOP primary are hoping to succeed retiring Republican Rep. Larry Bucshon. Randy Niemeyer, a county chair running with the support of House GOP leadership, is the favorite to secure the nomination to take on incumbent Rep. Frank Mrvan (D) this fall.
In another highly competitive House race, Rep. Victoria Spartz (R), who went back-and-forth before ultimately deciding she would seek reelection, faces a challenge from state Rep. Chuck Goodrich (R).
Republican Rep. Greg Pence’s retirement opened up another Republican-leaning House seat in Indiana. Jefferson Shreve, who unsuccessfully ran for mayor of Indianapolis, is seen as the frontrunner, though several Republicans, including current and former state legislators, will appear on the ballot.
More on Indiana Election Day here.
