Indiana State Senate Primaries: Trump-Backed Challengers Defeat Incumbent Republicans

Five of seven targeted incumbents who voted against a congressional redistricting map in 2024 lost their races. One incumbent won, and one race remained too close to call as of late Tuesday.

The Indiana state Senate Republican primaries held on May 6, 2025, resulted in a major shakeup. A majority of incumbents who opposed a redistricting plan endorsed by former President Donald Trump were defeated by Trump-backed challengers.

Results

The following outcomes were reported for contested Republican primaries:

• Blake Fiechter defeated state Sen. Travis Holdman.
• Michelle Davis defeated state Sen. Greg Walker.
• Trevor DeVries defeated state Sen. Daniel Dernulc.
• Tracey Powell defeated state Sen. Jim Buck.
• Brian Schmutzler defeated state Sen. Linda Rogers.
• Incumbent Sen. Greg Goode defeated Trump-backed Brenda Wilson and a third candidate.
• The race between Sen. Spencer Deery and Trump-endorsed challenger Paula Copenhaver was too close to call.
• One primary race in which the incumbent did not seek reelection was won by a Trump-backed candidate.

Background

The contested redistricting plan was supported by Trump, Governor Mike Braun, and U.S. Sen. Jim Banks. It aimed to create a map favoring Republicans in all nine of Indiana's U.S. House districts. The state House passed the plan, but the state Senate rejected it in a December 2024 floor vote, with 21 Republicans voting against it. Opponents cited concerns about gerrymandering and potential electoral risk.

"Hoosiers don't like gerrymandering," said Ball State University professor Chad Kinsella, noting that lawmakers were concerned about constituents' reactions.

The primaries marked an unusual mid-decade intervention in state-level races by Trump and his allies. Total ad spending in the state Senate primaries reached $13.5 million, up from under $300,000 in 2022. Trump and allied groups spent at least $8.3 million on the targeted races. Former Republican Gov. Mitch Daniels helped raise money for incumbents who opposed the plan.

Statements

State Senate President Rodric Bray said the caucus was "fairly evenly split" on redistricting and that the plan "wasn't the right way for Indiana to move forward." He expressed no regrets about the vote.

Defeated incumbent Travis Holdman said: "I did what my constituents asked me to do and it cost me my job. But that's OK." He described the campaign tactics as "D.C. politics in Indiana" and added: "Revenge and retribution is not a Christian value."

Trump-endorsed challenger Blake Fiechter thanked Holdman for his service and said he is "ready to turn the page."

Jim Bopp, a lawyer leading a PAC aligned with Braun, stated: "Republican voters overwhelmingly support Trump and when they find out Trump has endorsed a particular Senate candidate, they swing their support behind them."

"We hate to be told what to do. We're very independent thinking people." — Former state Rep. Mike Murphy, criticizing Trump's involvement.

Voters expressed mixed views on Trump's involvement. Ronda Millig, who voted for Trump-backed Michelle Davis, said the endorsement was not the deciding factor. Madison Long, who voted for incumbent Greg Walker, criticized Davis for having "no promises of her own" and aiming "to just follow Trump."

Broader Implications

The outcome may influence upcoming Republican primaries in other states, including contests against U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky.

Several states, including Alabama and Tennessee, have begun special sessions to redraw congressional maps amid pressure from Trump allies.

Some Republicans have expressed concern that intra-party fights are drawing resources away from general election campaigns.