Republican U.S. Representative Victoria Spartz has made a surprising announcement today. Despite her previous decision, Spartz has declared her intention to run for reelection in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. This reversal comes after her initial announcement last year that she would not seek another term.
In February of the previous year, Spartz stated that she wanted to prioritize spending time with her family and would not run in 2024. However, she now believes that her work in the Capitol should continue beyond January. Spurred on by the encouragement of her constituents and the current state of leadership in Washington, D.C., Spartz feels compelled to continue her commitment to the nation.
Having faced a tight and expensive race when initially elected in 2020, Spartz managed to secure the suburban seat in 2022 with an impressive 61% of the vote thanks to a Republican redistricting plan. Born in Ukraine, Spartz brings a unique perspective to the table, having grown up under tyranny. She understands the significance of the challenging times that our Republic is facing.
“As someone who grew up under tyranny, I understand the significance of these challenging times for our Republic, and if my fellow Hoosiers and God decide, I will be honored to continue fighting for them,” Spartz expressed in her statement.
This move adds an unexpected twist to the upcoming congressional race. As of now, at least nine Republicans have filed with the Secretary of State to run for Spartz’s seat, while no Democrats have filed yet, according to public postings. Indiana’s congressional delegation is set to have at least three new members after the fall elections.
It’s worth noting that Republican U.S. Representatives Larry Bucshon and Greg Pence, brother of former Vice President Mike Pence, have both announced their decisions to not seek reelection in 2024. Meanwhile, U.S. Representative Jim Banks is running for Indiana’s U.S. Senate seat, which was vacated by GOP Senator Mike Braun, who is now running for Indiana governor.
The deadline for candidates to file and appear on the primary ballot in Indiana is this Friday at noon.
Source: F5 Magazine