How Central Indiana's competitive races played out on Primary Election Day

The primary election on May 7, 2024 gave Central Indiana voters the chance to decide a number of competitive national and Statehouse races.

One of the most competitive was the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, Indiana’s 5th District. Ukrainian born incumbent Victoria Spartz won the night with more than 39 percent of the votes.

Spartz reentered the race after announcing her resignation last year. Eight other Republicans ran for the 5th, including Chuck Goodrich who garnered more than 31 percent of the vote. Spartz and Goodrich spent heavily on ads attacking one another.

“My victory in this election is a testament to the American people and my fellow Hoosiers that money and lies do not buy elections. I am honored to represent Indiana and ready to get back to work to get our great Republic back on track,” Spartz said in a statement. 

Spartz will face Democrat Deborah Pickett, who has a military background, in the November election.

U.S. House District 6 was another open seat, left empty when Rep. Greg Pence announced he would not seek reelection. It was a busy race, with seven Republicans campaigning for the spot in a district that covers parts of Marion, Shelby and Hancock counties.

Jefferson Shreve won in Indiana’s 6th Congressional District with more than 28 percent of the votes. Shreve was once again among the biggest campaign spenders — he ran for Mayor of Indianapolis last year and lost to Joe Hogsett, spending $14.4 million from his own account. Shreve sold his storage company for $590 million in 2022 and has also served on the Indianapolis City County Council.

In today's primary Shreve beat out Mike Speedy, who served in the Indiana House of Representatives, and Jamison Carrier, an entrepreneur. In November Shreve will face Democrat Cynthia Wirth, an educator with a background in biology, who ran unopposed.

In Indiana’s 7th Congressional District there were few surprises. Incumbent Democrat Andre Carson saw a few challengers but easily won his race for the district that covers Indianapolis and Marion County. Carson has held the seat since 2008.

Jennifer Pace won the Republican race for the 7th but Pace passed away earlier this year.  A Republican caucus will have to choose her replacement. 

And there were a few highlights for Central Indiana seats in the Indiana Statehouse.

State Senator Micheal Young (R-Indianapolis) from District 35 won his reelection with more than 52 percent of the vote — a more competitive race than he's had in the past. Philip Clay, a real estate investment banker and founder of a professional development organization for young Black men, ran against Young who has served in the state legislature for 38 years.

And Indiana House District 97 found incumbent Justin Moed (D-Indianapolis) easily won his re-election. 

Voter turnout numbers show just over 85,000 people voted in Marion County, out of more than 635,000 registered voters. That puts this year's Primary Election turnout at about 13.5 percent.