Election updates: McCray to take on Banks | Spartz, Shreve win GOP congressional nods

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

Check back throughout the day for primary election updates.

9:15 p.m.: McCray nabs Democratic nomination in Senate race

Valerie McCray

Valerie McCray, a clinical psychologist from Indianapolis, won the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate race. She will face Jim Banks, a member of the U.S. House who was unopposed in the Republican primary.

McCray is the first Black woman to win a party nomination to run for the Senate from Indiana. With 68% of the vote with 70% of precincts reported, McCray was leading Marc Carmichael.

In addressing supporters, McCray said described her effort as a “grassroots campaign by the people and for the people. We didn’t have a huge war chest, but we had heart, dedication, and passion.”

Banks, who has been endorsed by Donald Trump, has represented Indiana’s 3rd Congressional District since 2017. He served from 2010 to 2016 in the Indiana Senate.

8:50 p.m.: AP declares Shreve winner in 6th District

Just six months after an unsuccessful campaign for Indianapolis mayor, Jefferson Shreve has won a crowded primary for the Republican nomination in Indiana’s 6th Congressional District.

With 79% of the vote counted, Shreve, a former City-County councilor and the founder of self-storage business Storage Express, was leading six other candidates with 28% of the vote. Because the 6th District is a strong Republican district—it hasn’t elected a Democrat since 1983—he’s favored to be elected to Congress in November.

Read more here.

8:35 p.m.: AP calls 5th District race, Spartz prevails 

The Associated Press has called the 5th District race with about 75% of the vote counted. U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, the sitting incumbent who joined the race late after announcing in 2023 that she would retire, led with about 39% of the vote.

Indiana Rep. Chuck Goodrich had about 33% of the vote. The next closest candidate to Spartz was Max Engling with 9.7%.

Read more here.

8:30 p.m.: Braun addresses supporters for first time as GOP nominee

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, now the Republican nominee for governor, told supporters at Moontown Brewing Co. he would be the most entrepreneurial and accessible governor the state has had.

“You have thick skin to get through it, and then you have to be very forgiving and don’t hold any grudges if you’re going to actually get something done,” he said. “That’s how we take this state to the next level, and I can’t wait to do that.”
Surrounded by family, friends and campaign staff, Braun repeatedly reflected back on his hometown of Jasper, Indiana, recounting his previous elections and a story about his insurance agent contributing $150 to his U.S. Senate campaign. He said he will be in the southern Indiana city most Fridays.

While he did not spend much time echoing his campaign promises, except striving for a balanced budget, he mentioned states rights throughout his speech.

“It’s going to be up to the states to show how we get this country back to where the Founders intended to be: freedom and opportunity,” he said. “The two most important things.”

Before coming on stage, Braun said three other candidates had called to congratulate him.

“We’ve come through just now this evening that first hurdle jump with the feistiest, most competitive primary we’ve had in the history of our state,” he said.

“We are heading onto a journey that I hope you challenge me,” Braun added. “I’ll be challenging you, and we’re going to take this state to a place we’ve never seen before.”

Read more about Braun’s win here.

8:25 p.m.: Spartz maintains her lead

U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz maintains a lead over state Rep. Chuck Goodrich with about 57% of precincts reporting in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District.

Spartz has 38.7% of the vote so far, compared with 32.3% for Goodrich.

The 5th Congressional District includes Anderson, Carmel, Fishers, Kokomo, Marion, Muncie, Noblesville and Westfield.

8:20 p.m.: Military veteran and daycare operator leads House District 90 race

With 27.4% of Marion County vote centers reported, Elizabeth Williams leads the field of four for Indiana House District 90 with 39.9% of the vote. Andrew Ireland trails with 34.1%.

Williams is a military veteran and operates a daycare. Ireland is a former Deputy Attorney General who worked under both former AG Curtis Hill and current Attorney General Todd Rokita.

The winner will replace State Rep. Mike Speedy, who opted to not run for another term in order to pursue a bid for Congress. Speedy had endorsed Williams in the race.

8:10 p.m.: Chambers, Doden concede in governor’s race

Brad Chambers and Eric Doden both announced in statements that they were conceding to U.S. Sen. Mike Braun in the Republican primary for governor.

“Tonight, I called U.S. Senator Mike Braun to congratulate him on his victory and offer my support in the months ahead,” Chambers said in a statement. “I entered this race because I believe Indiana is a great state, but that with the right leadership, it could be even better. I hope U.S. Sen. Braun will be the leader Indiana needs and act ambitiously to create more opportunities that will lift up every Hoosier.”

Chambers, who owns Indianapolis-based developer Buckingham Cos., self-funded the bulk of his campaign.  He spent over $10 million of his own funds according to State Affairs.

Doden, a businessman from Fort Wayne, used a statement to thank his supporters and to congratulate Braun.

“Thank you to each and every Hoosier who supported us along this journey. For 3 years, we have traveled the state meeting with Hoosiers and offering our bold vision for Indiana’s future. Through those conversations, I stand before you with an even stronger belief in the greatness, and the potential, of the people of Indiana,” he said. “I offer my congratulations to Senator Braun on his victory and, in a conversation with him this evening, renewed my commitment to support him as our Republican nominee for Governor.”

7:40 p.m.: Spartz has lead in 5th District 

With an estimated 25% of precincts reporting, U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz holds an early lead over state Rep. Chuck Goodrich in the Republican primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District.

Spartz currently has 40% of the vote compared with 32.5% for Goodrich, followed by Max Engling with 9.9%

Spartz and Goodrich were considered the two frontrunners going into Election Day. Spartz is a two-term incumbent who entered the race in February after announcing nearly a year earlier that she would not seek another term. Goodrich currently represents Indiana House District 29.

7:10 p.m.: Sheve holds early lead in 6th District

With an estimated 18% of precincts counted, Jefferson Shreve has an early lead over Greenwood businessman Jamison Carrier in the Republican primary for Indiana’s 6th Congressional District. Shreve currently has 30.6% of the vote to Carrier’s 23%, followed by State Rep. Mike Speedy at 17.5%.

Speedy and Shreve were the expected frontrunners in the race. Carrier, a first-time candidate, made a name for himself in appearing on conservative-leaning news shows where he told the story of his stepson’s overdose on fentanyl. He also has the endorsement of former GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy, who appeared at a campaign event in Johnson County last week.

7:05 p.m.: AP calls Indiana GOP governor primary for Sen. Mike Braun

 The Associated Press at 7 p.m. called the Indiana GOP governor primary for U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who at that time was leading with about 39% of the vote. About 10% of votes had been counted.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch trailed him with 22%.

IBJ’s Cate Charron reports that Braun is expected to address supporters at Moontown Brewing Co. in Whitestown once the storm passes.

7 p.m.: Polls are closed statewide

The polls are now closed in northwest Indiana and Evansville, which are in the central time zone, an hour after the closed in the rest of Indiana.

Early results show U.S. Sen. Mike Braun is leading in his bid to be the GOP nominee for governor. With just 10% of vote centers and precincts reporting, Braun had nearly 38% of the vote in a six-way race. Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch had nearly 22%.

6:45 p.m.: Spartz leads in early 5th District returns

With an estimated 25% of precincts counted in Hamilton County, incumbent U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz is leading in a crowded race for the GOP nomination in the 5th Congressional District.

Spartz had about 40% of the vote, according to early returns from CNN. Challenger Chuck Goodrich, a member of the Indiana House, had 32%. Seven other candidates had single-digit percentages.

First elected in 2020, Spartz said last year she would not seek a third term. But she changed her mind just before the filing deadline earlier this year, after Goodrich and others had gotten into the race.

4:30 p.m.: Braun plans to have lieutenant governor pick

U.S. Mike Braun, who is seeking the GOP nomination in the governor’s race, told reporters Tuesday that if he wins the primary, he will provide a recommendation for his running mate to the delegates at the State Republican Convention.

The party’s candidate for lieutenant governor will be formally chosen at the convention on June 15 in Indianapolis and then run on a ticket with the gubernatorial nominee, who will be chosen in Tuesday’s primary election. Typically, the delegates approve the gubernatorial nominee’s pick. But the delegates are not required to do so, and neither is the candidate required to make a recommendation.

But Braun said he will make a pick—a decision he said would come “soon,” assuming he wins the primary.

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun mingles ahead of a watch party event Tuesday at the Moontown Brewing Co. in Whitestown. (IBJ photo/Mickey Shuey)

Polls have shown Braun is leading in the crowded primary, which also includes Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, former Indiana Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers and former Indiana Economic Development Corp. President Eric Doden.

During comments to reporters, Braun also said Tuesday that money has grown to be a more significant factor in a successful campaign, and competition from well-funded candidates will only keep driving total spending up.

“This is one of those robust, competitive, feisty campaigns, and sadly, it ends up costing this much,” he said.

If elected, he said there is more opportunity to enact change if he returns from Washington, D.C., and works in Indiana. One issue he felt voters could have learned more about this cycle was property taxes.

12:50 p.m.: Gubernatorial candidates plan watch parties

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun and his family will wait for gubernatorial election results for the GOP primary at Whitestown’s Moontown Brewery—the same place he watched returns and celebrated his U.S. Senate Republican nomination in 2018. Doors open at 5:45 p.m.

The campaign for Brad Chambers plans a watch party at its Indianapolis headquarters at 935 N. Meridian St. starting at 6 p.m.

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch will be watching results at The Industry, 545 Kentucky Ave., in Indianapolis, starting at 6:30

Eric Doden will spend his election night at the Union Street Market at Electric Works in his hometown of Fort Wayne, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Each watch party is open to the public.

7 a.m.: Early voting up in Indy, HamCo

Both Marion County and Hamilton County saw increases in early in-person voting when compared with 2022.

In Hamilton County, election officials reported 11,248 early votes, which is 7,000 more than 2022 early in-person totals. Hamilton County Election Administrator Bethany Sheller said that’s a 5.5% turnout rate so far, which is already nearly half of the 12% turnout seen in the 2022 primary.

In Marion County, nearly 11,934 votes were cast prior to the close of early voting at noon Monday, while 11,176 were cast during the same period in 2022.

There are currently 635,478 registered voters in Marion County, according to Marion County Election Board Deputy Director Brent Stinson, so voter turnout so far is just below 2%. Through Monday at noon, 4,367 mail-in votes were received.

6 a.m.: Polls open

Polling sites across Indiana are open for voting in county, legislative and federal primary races as well as some tax questions and school board races.

Indianapolis voters can vote at any of nearly 200 vote centers. Most other central Indiana counties use a similar model, but Hamilton County residents are required to go to a polling place assigned by precinct. That information is available at indianavoters.in.gov or the Hamilton County website.

See more about when, where and how to vote here.

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In