Democrat J.D. Ford defeated Republican Representative Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District. He flipped a seat the GOP had held for years.
Decision Desk HQ called the race for Ford at 8:28 p.m. Eastern Time. Ford won 51.7 percent to 48.3 percent.
A major upset for Indiana’s 5th District
Ford is a two-term state senator from Indianapolis. He served eight years in the Indiana Senate.
Spartz was a three-term Republican. She was first elected in 2020 and sought a fourth term.
The district stretches from Indianapolis’ northern suburbs into north-central Indiana. It includes Carmel, Fishers, Noblesville, Anderson, Muncie and Marion.
Spartz won reelection two years ago by more than 18 percentage points. Ford’s win gives Democrats control of the seat for the first time since the 1990s.
Ford becomes the first openly gay person elected to Congress from Indiana. He takes office in January for a two-year term.
What is confirmed: Ford won the seat. Spartz lost. The race is called.
