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President Donald Trump flexed his political muscle in Indiana on Tuesday, as Republican primary voters ousted five state senators who had defied his push to redraw congressional maps, according to NBC News projections.
The results mark a significant victory for Trump and his allies following a high-profile clash with GOP lawmakers last year over redistricting — and underscore his continued influence within the Republican Party.
Primary losses follow redistricting rebellion
The targeted lawmakers were among a group of Republicans who blocked a Trump-backed proposal to redraw Indiana’s congressional districts, a plan designed to net the GOP two additional U.S. House seats.
In the aftermath, Trump endorsed primary challengers against several of those incumbents — a move that drew millions of dollars in outside spending and national attention to typically low-profile state legislative races.
According to ad-tracking firm AdImpact, roughly $12 million was spent across seven contested primaries involving Trump-backed challengers, with much of the funding coming from allied outside groups opposing incumbents.
Key defeats and close races
Among the most notable losses was state Sen. Travis Holdman, a longtime lawmaker and senior Republican leader, who was defeated by Blake Fiechter, a real estate agent who reentered the race after receiving Trump’s endorsement.
State Sen. Jim Buck, an 80-year-old veteran legislator first elected in the 1990s, lost to Tracey Powell, a local county commissioner, despite backing from former Vice President Mike Pence.
State Sen. Greg Walker, who had initially planned to retire but stayed in office amid the redistricting dispute, was defeated by state Rep. Michelle Davis, another Trump-backed candidate.
Two other incumbents — Linda Rogers and Dan Dernulc — also lost to challengers aligned with Trump.
However, not all of Trump’s preferred candidates prevailed. State Sen. Greg Goode defeated Trump-endorsed challenger Brenda Wilson in his primary, while another race remained extremely tight, with state Sen. Spencer Deery holding a narrow three-vote lead over Paula Copenhaver late Tuesday.
Big spending, national stakes
The contests became some of the most expensive state legislative primaries in Indiana history, with one race alone drawing more than $3 million in ad spending in a district of roughly 135,000 residents.
Trump also weighed in on an open-seat race, backing former state Rep. Jeff Ellington, who won his primary.
U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, whose aligned groups invested heavily in the races, celebrated the results as a victory for the party’s conservative wing.
“Big night for MAGA in Indiana,” Banks wrote on social media.
Broader implications
The primary shakeup highlights the political risks for Republicans who break with Trump, even in state-level contests that historically attract little national attention.
It also comes amid a broader, ongoing redistricting battle nationwide, as both parties seek to shape congressional maps ahead of the midterm elections.
While Trump’s influence remains strong within GOP primaries, the results unfold against a more complicated national backdrop, with his overall approval ratings under pressure amid rising gas prices and ongoing tensions related to the Iran conflict.
For Indiana Republicans, Tuesday’s results signal a reshaped state Senate — and a clear message about the weight of Trump’s endorsement in intra-party fights.
