INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A Ukrainian congresswoman who recently opposed sending aid to her war-torn country is defending her seat Tuesday against a Republican colleague who has surpassed her in spending and fundraising.
US Representative Victoria Spartz is the first and only member of the House born in Ukraine and who previously supported support for the country. But before her primary contest, she reversed her position and voted against sending $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. She defended the change, arguing that her loyalty is to America first and that she wanted to see US-Mexico border policy included in the aid package, a position largely shared by her Republican opponents.
Elections in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis will determine whether Spartz’s maneuvers pay off. More broadly, the race is a barometer of whether support for Ukraine is a powerful issue among GOP voters. The issue has become an increasingly divisive topic among Republicans in Washington, where many are pushing for a reduction in aid.
If she is defeated, Spartz would be the first House Republican to lose a primary this year in a race that was not affected by redistricting.
The primaries mark the latest twist in Spartz’s political career. She won a close primary race in 2020 and was not challenged for the Republican Party nomination in 2022. She initially planned to left Congress last yearopting for re-election to his House seat and forgoing the chance to seek the Senate seat being vacated by Republicans Mike Braun.
She later reversed course, deciding to seek another term in the House. But her change of plans gave state Rep. Chuck Goodrich an opportunity to outbid Spartz by millions of dollars and become her main competitor in the primary.
Former President of the Presumptive Statewide Presidential Candidates donald trump and president Joe Biden are looking to accumulate more delegates for their respective party conventions later this summer. Trump won Indiana by 16 points in 2020. The only question on the Republican side is how many votes will go to former South Carolina governor and UN ambassador Nikki Haley, who is still in the primary after dropping out of the race in March.
Indiana voters do not have the option to vote “ uncommitted.” The protest and vote movement in some states against Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas war cast doubt on the president’s Democratic support in November.
The most watched and expensive race within the state is the six-candidate race to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. Braun is considered the front-runner in the race, backed by several advantages: name recognition, money and Trump’s endorsement. He spent more than $6 million in the first three months of 2024 alone.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch campaigned to reduce state income taxes. Two former commerce secretaries are also running, Brad Camaras – who contributed US$10 million to his campaign – and Eric Doden.
Once seen as a likely governor of the Hoosier State, the former Attorney General Curtis Hill has struggled to compete. Political newcomer Jamie Reitenour is also on the ballot.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick is uncontested.
