Indiana, Ohio Primaries: Several Trump-Endorsed Candidates Advance in Republican Contests

By Darryl Coote

*UPI | May 6*

Indiana and Ohio conducted primary elections on Tuesday, with attention focused on Republican races for state senate seats in Indiana and the gubernatorial contest in Ohio. (File Photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI | License Photo)

Republican primary voters in Indiana and Ohio supported several candidates endorsed by former President Donald Trump in contests held Tuesday ahead of November's midterm elections.

In Indiana, the state held primaries for hundreds of races, including state senate districts where Trump had endorsed challengers to incumbent Republicans. Those incumbents had voted in December 2025, alongside more than 20 fellow GOP state senators and Democrats, to reject Trump's proposal for mid-decade congressional redistricting. The plan aimed to redraw maps to add Republican seats but was opposed on grounds that it violated state law prohibiting redistricting outside the decennial census cycle.

Trump's seven endorsed challengers targeted incumbents who opposed the redistricting proposal. With nearly 90% of precincts reporting as of early Wednesday, according to the Indiana Election Division, five of those candidates had margins sufficient to declare victory based on unofficial results. A sixth was in a tight race, while one lost.

The five who declared victory were Trevor De Vries, Brian Schmutzler, Blake Fiechter, Tracey Powell and Michelle Davis. Trump allies spent at least $8.3 million supporting these challengers, according to campaign finance records.

De Vries defeated incumbent Sen. Daniel Dernulc in District 1, receiving 75.1% of the vote to Dernulc's 23.3%, per unofficial results.

Schmutzler led Sen. Linda Rogers, 55.8% to 44.2%; Fiechter led Sen. Travis Holdman, 61.5% to 38.5%; Powell led Sen. Jim Buck, 64.7% to 35.3%; and Davis led Sen. Greg Walker, 58.8% to 41.2%.

"Thank you to every Hoosier who came out to vote today," De Vries said in a social media post late Tuesday. "And special thanks to President @DonaldTrump for his endorsement that helped seal the deal and showed Indianapolis what real Hoosiers wanted. We did it, Indiana! Time to get to work."

Paula Copenhaver, another Trump-endorsed challenger, declared victory against Sen. Spencer Deery despite a virtual tie in unofficial results, where she trailed by three ballots. "After all provisional ballots are counted, we will prevail and be declared the winner of this race," she said on X. "I want to thank President Donald Trump for his unwavering support and endorsement. President Trump is the leader of our party, and it showed clearly tonight in his victories across the state."

The only Trump-endorsed challenger to trail decisively was Brenda Wilson, who received 36% to incumbent Sen. Greg Goode's 53.6%.

Separately, challenger Jay Starkey, who did not receive a Trump endorsement, also led incumbent Sen. Rich Niemeyer, who had opposed the redistricting proposal.

"Big night for MAGA in Indiana," Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., said in a social media statement. "Proud to have helped elect more conservative Republicans to the Indiana State Senate."

The redistricting effort would not affect Indiana's congressional map before the midterms.

In Ohio, the primary drew focus to the Republican contest for governor, as incumbent Republican Gov. Mike DeWine is barred by term limits from seeking re-election.

Democrats Amy Acton for governor and David Pepper for lieutenant governor ran unopposed.

On the Republican side, voters selected Vivek Ramaswamy for governor and state Sen. Robert McColley for lieutenant governor. The Ramaswamy-McColley ticket received 82.47% of the vote to 17.53% for Casey Putsch and Kimberly Georgeton, according to unofficial results from the Ohio Secretary of State's office.

Ramaswamy personally loaned his campaign $25 million and received support from super PACs that raised more than $29 million, per campaign finance disclosures.

Trump endorsed Ramaswamy earlier Tuesday, stating on social media: "I know Vivek well, competed against him and he is something SPECIAL. Vivek Ramaswamy will be a GREAT Governor of Ohio."

Ramaswamy, who gained national prominence during the 2024 Republican presidential primary where he ran against Trump, had aligned himself with Trump's "America First" positions and praised the former president.

"Thank you, Mr. President!" Ramaswamy responded to the endorsement. "It's time to make Ohio greater than ever."

In his victory speech Tuesday night, Ramaswamy said: "I speak for Rob and myself here: We are in this because we believe that together -- with the complementary skills that we bring to the table -- we are the two people in this state who can work together as a team to lead Ohio back to our true potential. To our greatest heights to put more money in your pocket, to bring down those costs and to give your kids the world-class education that is the birthright of every Ohioan."

The primaries will determine nominees for the general election in November.

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