The media has been focused on high-profile presidential and gubernatorial races, but the upcoming congressional primaries are expected to attract significant interest from voters. In Indiana, the May 7 primary will see voters choosing nominees for major executive offices and the U.S. Senate. However, the more challenging races may be for congressional seats being vacated by Republicans.
Former President Donald Trump and former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley are both on the ballot for Republican voters in Indiana, with Trump leading in polling by a significant margin. President Joe Biden is unopposed in the Democratic presidential primary. Hoosiers will also be nominating candidates for governor.
In the U.S. Senate race, Sen. Mike Braun leads the Republican field by a wide margin, with Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch polling a distant second. Former Indiana secretaries of commerce Brad Chambers and Eric Doden are also in the running.
The governorship in Indiana is considered a solid Republican seat, with the GOP having held the office since 2005. In the congressional races, lively contests are expected, particularly in the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th districts. Candidates from both parties are vying for these seats, with significant fundraising and campaigning efforts underway. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch delivered a speech during a debate organized and hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission on April 23, 2024, in Indianapolis. Rep. Larry Bucshon (R-Ind.) decided not to seek reelection in the 8th District. State senator and business owner Mark Messmer leads in fundraising with over $750,000 raised. Physician Richard Moss and Army veteran and civil engineer Dominick Kavanaugh also have over $500,000 in funding. John Hostettler, a former seat holder from 1995 to 2007, is running for the nomination as well. In the Democratic primary, Erik Hurt, Peter Priest II, Edward Upton Sein, and Michael Talarzyk are vying for the nomination. The 8th District has been a battleground for both parties, changing hands nine times in 70 years. Early voting in Indiana began on April 9 and closed at noon on May 6, with polls open for in-person voting from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on May 7.
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