Four President Donald Trump-endorsed Statehouse candidates have ousted state lawmakers who voted against redistricting, but at least one incumbent is holding onto their seat, according to multiple outlets.
As of 8:30 p.m., NBC News and Decision Desk HQ have called four races in favor of Trump-endorsed candidates:
Meanwhile, the two outlets named Sen. Greg Goode, R-Terre Haute, who voted against redistricting, the winner of his three-way primary in Senate District 38. With 86% of precincts reporting, he has 54% of the vote, to Trump-endorsed Brenda Wilson’s 36% and Alexandra Wilson’s 10%.
Trump endorsed challengers to seven incumbents in retribution for the Indiana Senate rejecting his redistricting push.
At the time of the redistricting vote, Indiana was the only red state to vote to deny Trump’s push to redraw the congressional maps to give the GOP an advantage in the midterms. A majority of Senate Republicans joined Democrats to vote Indiana’s map down in December; seven of those no-voting senators were on the ballot this primary election.
Trump endorsed a challenger in all seven of those races, plus a newcomer in an open seat. He also endorsed the handful of senators running for reelection who did support redistricting, bringing his total number of endorsements in Indiana Statehouse races to 19.
Incumbency is a tough hill for any challenger to climb, particularly in a low-turnout primary. Many of these incumbents are not used to having challengers at all. That’s why the political talk of the town was to what degree a Trump endorsement would help these challengers mount an upset.
But it wasn’t merely a Trump endorsement assisting the challengers. Outside groups like Turning Point Action, Club For Growth and other political action committees have flooded the Indiana airwaves, social media and mailboxes with millions in advertising spending to urge Hoosiers to reject the “RINO” incumbent and choose the challenger who has Trump’s backing.
At a Wells County election night watch party, Holdman, a senator for nearly two decades, said he was somewhat surprised by the result.“I have one message for people: Revenge and retribution is not a Christian value,” Holdman said. “That’s what this was all about. I’m not bitter about it. It’s just a fact.”Fiechter described the win as “surreal.”“I hadn’t let myself think about winning or losing,” he said.He said he thought the influence of Trump was “obviously instrumental” in him winning but said he doesn’t think outside influence will continue from Washington.“I’m going to stick with my own gut and my own instincts,” he said.It was a fast and stunning defeat for an Indiana legislative stalwart, who’s been a fixture in the Statehouse for nearly two decades.Less than three hours after polls closed, Holdman and his family walked out the door onto Johnson Street into the grey rain.
Here are the State Senate districts where Trump endorsed challengers, and how they are performing so far.
Senate District 1
Senate District 11
Senate District 19
Senate District 21
Senate District 23
Senate District 38
Senate District 39
Senate District 41
This article will update as election results become available.
Hayleigh Colombo contributed reporting.
Contact IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X @kayla_dwyer17.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 4 Trump-endorsed Indiana Senate challengers oust incumbents, one survives so far
Reporting by Kayla Dwyer, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
