Seven Indiana Republican state senators face primary challengers backed by Donald Trump on Tuesday, in what amounts to the former president's most aggressive attempt yet to punish GOP lawmakers who crossed him on redistricting. The spending tells the story: roughly $12 million in advertising has flooded these typically sleepy local races, nearly all of it from Trump-allied groups working to unseat the incumbents.
The conflict traces back to last year, when Indiana's Republican-controlled state Senate rejected a congressional redistricting plan Trump favored, one designed to flip two additional House seats red. It was a rare legislative rebuke, and Trump made clear he would not forget it. What followed became a test of whether his influence over the party remained absolute or whether local Republicans could still defy him without facing serious electoral consequences.
The most expensive contest involves state Sen. Spencer Deery, who served as an aide to Mitch Daniels when the former governor led Purdue University. Deery is fighting Paula Copenhaver, an assistant to Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, in a district with just 135,000 voters but more than $3 million in ad spending.
State Sen. Travis Holdman, the third-ranking Republican in the chamber and an officeholder since 2008, faces Blake Fiechter, a real estate agent backed by Trump. Fiechter briefly abandoned the race in February, citing overwhelm, but reversed course after visiting the White House in March.
The race featuring state Sen. Greg Goode includes an unusual wrinkle: two unrelated candidates with the surname Wilson. One, Brenda Wilson, a Vigo County Council member, carries Trump's endorsement. The other, Alexandra Wilson, is a network engineer. According to reporting, White House officials and Trump allies worked aggressively to push Alexandra Wilson from the race, worried she would split anti-Goode votes and allow him to survive.
State Sen. Greg Walker initially planned to retire after 20 years in the chamber but reversed course during the redistricting fight, openly expressing fears about capitulating to Trump's pressure. His emotional display drew national notice. Walker now faces state Rep. Michelle Davis, who entered the race with Trump's backing. The spending gap is striking: Walker has spent $73,000 on ads while outside groups have poured more than $1.3 million behind Davis.
Other races include state Sen. Jim Buck, an 80-year-old legislator since 1994, facing Tipton County Commissioner Tracey Powell, who has Trump support. Buck, by contrast, won the backing of former Vice President and former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. State Sen. Linda Rogers, who owns a golf course and home building company, is battling anesthesiologist Dr. Brian Schmutzler, who said on his website he opposes government health mandates and tax increases.
State Sen. Dan Dernulc, who represents a northern district near Chicago, has faced less outside investment than the others, with his primary contest attracting just $346,000 in ad spending compared to more than $1 million in each of the other six races. He faces Trump-endorsed insurance broker Trevor De Vries and financial analyst Nader Liddawi.
The campaign spending reflects Trump's determination to enforce party loyalty on redistricting and his willingness to deploy resources selectively across different races. Whether that translates into victories on election day will test whether his influence over Indiana Republicans extends to primary voters or whether local concerns outweigh national pressure.
Author Sarah Mitchell: "These races show Trump still has money and messaging power, but they also show he can't always bend state legislatures to his will, no matter what he spends."
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