THE FEDERALIST: Grassroots GOP Ousts Indiana Republicans Who Betrayed Base On Redistricting
In a remarkable demonstration of grassroots strength, Indiana conservatives ousted numerous Republican state lawmakers who betrayed their constituents on mid-decade redistricting.
According to The New York Times, preliminary results from Tuesday’s primary elections indicate that at least five incumbent Republican senators who sided with Democrats last year to kill redistricting before the 2026 midterms are projected to lose their reelection bids. The successful challengers were backed by President Donald Trump, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, and Turning Point Action.
In Senate District 1, challenger Trevor De Vries is estimated to defeat incumbent Sen. Daniel Dernulc. As of publication, De Vries leads Dernulc 76 percent to 23 percent, with 74 percent of votes tabulated.
In Senate District 11, contender Brian Schmutzler is projected to beat out incumbent Sen. Linda Rogers. The former leads the latter by roughly 18 points with more than 95 percent of votes counted.
Challenger Blake Fiechter also put on a dominating performance in his race against incumbent Sen. Travis Holdman in Senate District 19. According to the Times, preliminary results show Fiechter beating Holdman by 22 points with 73 percent of votes tabulated.
Success was also on display in Senate District 21, where contender Tracey Powell is projected to defeat incumbent Sen. James Buck. Unfinalized figures show Powell winning the race by 30 points, with 84 percent of votes counted.
Buck was endorsed by former Vice President Mike Pence.
In Senate District 41, Trump-backed Michelle Davis is projected to take down incumbent Sen. Greg Walker by nearly 20 points.
Walker notably declined an invitation to visit the White House last year amid the Indiana Legislature’s redistricting push. In doing so, he went out of his way to say that Trump “works for me” and accused the White House of violating federal law by “trying to influence the election on my dime.”
While refusing to back redistricting efforts, Sen. Greg Goode is projected to have survived his primary challenge. In a three-person race, the incumbent senator is estimated to have won more than half the vote, with Trump-endorsed Brenda Wilson projected to come in second and Alexandra Wilson in third, according to preliminary results.
Meanwhile, a key race in Senate District 23 remains undecided as of publication time. According to the Times, incumbent Spencer Deery is leading Trump-backed challenger Paula Copenhaver by 1.4 points, with more than 95 percent of votes tabulated.
