The U.S. House Republicans’ campaign arm will lend its support to Republican candidate Barb Regnitz as it eyes Indiana’s 1st Congressional District as a potential pick-up in 2026, signaling the race could be competitive.
The National Republican Congressional Committee selected Regnitz, a Porter County commissioner and business owner, along with 23 other Republican candidates in battleground districts for their MAGA Majority program, an effort to keep and even grow the GOP majority in Congress.
The formerly blue stronghold in the 1st District has waned in recent years amid shifting political winds in industrial northwest Indiana. Currently held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan, a Democrat, the seat has been a GOP target for several cycles.
“Barb Regnitz delivered results in both the private sector and as Porter County Commissioner, and she’ll bring that same proven leadership to Congress,” NRCC spokesperson Zach Bannon said in a statement. “Regnitz is set to secure victory in November and fight for Northwest Indiana.”
The extra boost from the NRCC is notable in a district where Republicans have been losing by thin margins. Mrvan prevailed over his GOP opponents by eight percentage points in 2024 and five percentage points in 2022, respectively. And a GOP pick-up in Indiana could make the difference in a midterm election year that’s expected to favor Democrats.
But it’s not the first time the NRCC has stepped in to help out in the 1st Congressional District. The GOP nominees in 2024 and 2022, Randy Niemeyer and Jennifer-Ruth Green, were part of the same program, which was previously called the “Young Guns” program.
Democrats are already working to defend Mrvan’s seat. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee added Mrvan to its Frontline program in March 2025, which supports Democrats in competitive seats.
Mrvan and Regnitz have so far gone toe-to-toe on money: by April, Mrvan and Regnitz both had a little more than $1 million on hand, though Regnitz had a slight edge. Regnitz has loaned $1.5 million to her campaign, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
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Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@indystar.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: National GOP to funnel resources into flipping Indiana’s 1st Congressional District
Reporting by Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
