INDIANAPOLIS — In Indiana’s fifth district, voters will have the choice between an incumbent Republican who previously announced that she would not run for reelection and a new Democratic politician who has lived in Indiana for almost four decades.
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. District 5, the Republican incumbent, will face Deborah Pickett, the Democratic candidate, in November’s general election.
Before that election, look below at the platforms of each fifth district major party candidate and what they believe makes them stand out in this particular race.
Deborah Pickett
While she may be new to the political arena, Deborah Pickett, an Indiana resident for almost four decades, said she wants to be elected to the position because she would help bring the “voice of the people to the table.”
According to Pickett’s website, Pickett previously served in the U.S. Army Reserve and researched international trade and economic issues for the Hudson Institute. If she is elected, Pickett said she would “lead the charge for smart policy,” as well as “effective and efficient government.”
“What drives innovation, boosts the economy, and creates job opportunities? The freedom to pursue your passions and lead the life you desire,” she said on her website. “The right to marry the person you love and the responsibility to have control over your reproductive health. A well-functioning government bound by principles, laws and a regulatory framework that ensures fair treatment and justice for all.”
During a fifth district congressional forum last month, Pickett said she would codify Roe. v. Wade, stating that “one of the most important rights” was violated and is a topic that is “most important to just about every woman in the United States.” Pickett also said she was in favor of providing funding for the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Israel.
Pickett also said during that forum that while it is important for new security measures to be implemented at the border, it is imperative for the state to continue supporting immigrants.
“In the state of Indiana, we have a very different situation compared to states surrounding the southern border. We have a huge shortage of workers,” she said. “Immigrants are critical to actually supporting our Indiana economy. They serve in many different industries, in hospitality, construction and agriculture.”
Some of Pickett’s other priorities that she outlined on her website also include:
- Defending democracy and rights
- Pickett said that Hoosiers do not want the government telling them what to do with their personal lives, providing examples including their reproductive health, their choice of partner and/or whether or not they want gender-affirming healthcare.
- Delivering effective and efficient government for and to the people
- Pickett said she believes that Hoosiers “deserve to have their government work efficiently and effectively,” stating that social security, Medicare and Medicaid should be paid for “without gamesmanship and for the long term.”
- Protecting and managing natural resources for present and future generations
- Pickett said that Hoosiers need to have input into how their communities and natural resources are going to be impacted through their respective industries.
- Providing universal health care to all Americans
- Pickett said the country’s current healthcare system can be difficult and costly to many Americans, stressing that the country would benefit from having a policy untethered to an employer “in which they are automatically enrolled and guaranteed basic care. She said that this would “give peace of mind to all Americans.”
- Building strong global trade and humanitarian alliances
- In Pickett’s view, Hoosiers need “international markets for their agriculture products and industrial and consumer products,” stressing that global partnerships with few trade barriers and low-to-no tariffs offer great opportunities for producers and lower prices overall.
- Investing in a well-trained, well-equipped and well-cared-for U.S. Military
- Pickett said that the United States “needs to project stability and strength” with their U.S. Military, stating it is important for it to be invested in.
Victoria Spartz
Even though she previously announced that she would not run for reelection, current U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, R-Ind. District 5 filed for reelection in February.
In 2023, Spartz said she wanted to spend more time with her family, stating that she would not run again for the U.S. House of Representatives. However, a year later, she said that she was “urged by many of (her) constituents” to run again. Spartz won the Republican primary in May in the midst of a crowded field.
“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 said in a statement at the time. “We must carry on the sacrifice of countless Americans for our liberties and keep the American dream alive for our children.”
Originally from Ukraine, Spartz has served in the Indiana State Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. According to her campaign website, she was first elected to the U.S. Congress in 2020 and was reelected in 2022. Spartz has served on several committees, including the House Judiciary Committee, as well as the subcommittee on the administrative state, regulatory reform and antitrust.
During the recent fifth district forum, Spartz said that her top objective in this election was restoring the freedom of Americans and restoring “prosperity for the American people.” Spartz also said that she would aim to find solutions to lower the country’s national debt.
Some of Spartz’s other priorities that she listed on her website include:
- Constitution and Bill of Rights
- Spartz said that lawmakers must “preserve” the Second Amendment and “protect the sanctity of all human life.”
- Immigration and border security
- As an immigrant herself, Spartz said on her website that there are changes that need to be made. Spartz stressed that she believes the process takes too long and is too “expensive and bureaucratic.” To address illegal immigration, Spartz said she believes that the legal process needs to be addressed.
- National defense and military
- Spartz said a strong national defense is a “fundamental function” of the government, stressing that the military needs to be kept strong and better services need to be provided to Veterans.
- Healthcare
- Spartz said that healthcare costs are “unsustainable and destroying the middle class.” A solution for that, in Spartz’s view, is increasing transparency and competition, allowing for more consumer choice.
- Education
- Quality education is one of Spartz’s top priorities, she said on her website. This includes giving states’ flexibility to the states to improve K-12 education, reforming higher education financing and better preparing students for future workforce demands.
- Business regulations
- Spartz said she believes that regulation powers must be limited to help the country maintain “a vibrant business environment.”
- Term limits
- Spartz said she believes in term limits and will “self-impose term limits to a maximum three terms or less.”
The state’s voter registration deadline is Monday, according to the Indiana Secretary of State’s office. After Monday, Hoosiers who are not registered to vote will not be able to participate in November’s general election.
For more information on how Indiana residents are able to register to vote, click here.
