INDIANAPOLIS — President Donald Trump's influence loomed large over Republican primaries in Indiana and Ohio on Tuesday, as candidates backed by the former president scored decisive victories, ousting several GOP incumbents in a show of his enduring sway within the party. In Indiana, Trump's targeted campaign against state senators who opposed his efforts to redraw congressional districts last year resulted in five challengers defeating incumbents, with one race still hanging in the balance late into the night. The results marked a significant night for Trump-aligned conservatives, who poured more than $10 million into the races to reshape the Hoosier State's political landscape.
The primaries came amid ongoing tensions within the Indiana Republican Party over redistricting, a process Trump had aggressively pushed to create more favorable congressional maps. Incumbents who blocked the effort, labeled by Trump as "long seated RINOS" — Republicans in name only — faced well-funded challengers endorsed by the president. Before the polls closed, Trump took to Truth Social to rally support, writing, "Good luck to those Great Indiana Senate Candidates who are running against people who couldn’t care less about our Country, or about keeping the Majority in Congress."
Among the most notable upsets was the defeat of longtime state Sen. Travis Holdman, a member of Indiana Senate leadership since 2008, who lost to challenger Blake Fiechter by a 61% to 39% margin. Holdman had been a key figure in opposing the redistricting push, which aimed to bolster Republican chances in future congressional elections. Similarly, Trevor De Vries trounced state Sen. Dan Dernulc 75% to 24%, while Tracey Powell bested state Sen. Jim Buck 65% to 35%. Brian Schmutzler and Michelle Davis also prevailed over state Sens. Linda Rogers and Greg Walker, respectively, each by 18-point margins.
One race remained too close to call as returns trickled in, potentially handing Trump a sixth victory. The only incumbent to survive the purge was state Sen. Greg Goode, who defeated Trump-backed challenger Brenda Wilson in District 38. A third candidate, Alexandra Wilson, garnered about 10% of the vote, splitting the anti-incumbent tally. According to reports, the White House had urged Alexandra Wilson to withdraw from the race prior to the primary, citing concerns that her candidacy could confuse voters intending to support Brenda Wilson.
Republican leaders in Indiana hailed the outcomes as a vindication of Trump's popularity. "Everyone in Indiana politics should have learned an important lesson today: President Trump is the single most popular Republican among Hoosier voters," said Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., in a statement. Banks, a staunch Trump ally, added, "Indiana is a conservative state, and we deserve conservatives in our State Senate who have a pulse on Republican voters."
Gov. Mike Braun, who supported the redistricting initiative alongside Trump, described the evening as a "historic night for Indiana." In a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, Braun wrote, "[R]epublicans stood with me and President Trump to nominate some great America First conservatives. I look forward to winning big in November and serving Hoosiers with this team in the statehouse!" Braun's endorsement had been instrumental in mobilizing support for the challengers, underscoring the governor's alignment with the president's agenda.
The spending in these races was staggering, with Trump-backed groups investing over $10 million to unseat the incumbents. This financial firepower, combined with Trump's personal endorsements, created a formidable barrier for the targeted senators, many of whom had held their seats for years. The redistricting fight dated back to last year, when a faction of Indiana Republicans resisted Trump's calls to redraw boundaries, arguing it could invite legal challenges or alienate moderate voters. Proponents, however, saw it as essential for maintaining GOP dominance in a state that has leaned heavily Republican in recent cycles.
Shifting to Ohio, the primaries also showcased Trump's kingmaker status, particularly in the race for governor. Biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a former contender in the 2024 GOP presidential primary, cruised to victory over business owner Casey Putsch in the Republican gubernatorial contest. Ramaswamy, entering the race as the frontrunner, benefited from endorsements by Trump and Vice President JD Vance, the latter a former Ohio senator who traveled to the state earlier Tuesday to vote for him and offer a final push.
In his victory speech Tuesday night, Ramaswamy outlined his vision for the Buckeye State, declaring, "We’re going to revive that American Dream in Ohio once again, with lower costs, bigger paychecks and better schools for all Ohioans." Polls suggest the November general election against Democrat Dr. Amy Acton could be competitive, testing Ramaswamy's ability to broaden his appeal beyond the GOP base in a state that flipped to Trump in 2024.
Down ballot in Ohio, state Sen. Jon Husted ran unopposed in a special election for the U.S. Senate, positioning him for a showdown with former Sen. Sherrod Brown, a Democrat mounting a comeback bid. Brown's potential return represents one of the Democrats' strongest opportunities to flip a Senate seat, especially in a chamber where Republicans hold a slim majority. Husted's uncontested primary win sets the stage for a high-stakes fall campaign focused on economic issues and national partisanship.
On the Democratic side in Ohio, voters decisively rejected a controversial candidate in the attorney general primary. Former state lawmaker Elliot Forhan, who earlier this year sparked outrage by vowing to "kill" Trump through a legal conviction resulting in capital punishment, lost to Columbus attorney John Kulewicz by a 66% to 33% margin. Forhan's comments, made in the context of pursuing cases against the president, had drawn widespread condemnation. Kulewicz, who called Forhan's remarks "disgraceful," will now face Republican Keith Faber in November.
The Ohio results reflect broader national trends in the Republican Party, where Trump's endorsements continue to carry significant weight two years after his 2024 reelection. Analysts point to his ability to mobilize the base in Midwestern states like Indiana and Ohio, which were pivotal in his presidential victory. However, the primaries also highlighted divisions, as the ousted incumbents represented a more establishment wing wary of Trump's more aggressive tactics.
Across the border in Michigan, the night's action extended to a special election that bolstered Democratic control. Chedrick Green won comfortably to fill the state Senate seat vacated by Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, securing the party's majority in the chamber. This outcome provides Democrats with leverage heading into the legislative session, particularly on issues like education funding and labor rights, where the slim margin could prove decisive.
Looking ahead, the November general elections in these states will test whether the Trump-backed winners can translate primary success into broader victories. In Indiana, the new slate of state Senate candidates will join Braun in pushing a conservative agenda, potentially reviving the redistricting debate. Ohio's gubernatorial race, meanwhile, could influence the state's role in future national contests. As one political observer noted, Tuesday's primaries signal that Trump's grip on the GOP remains firm, shaping the party's direction for years to come.
With ballots still being counted in some Indiana districts, final certifications could take days. Officials in both states reported high turnout among Republican voters, driven by the high-profile endorsements and the personal stakes involved in the redistricting saga. The events of May 5, 2026, underscore the ongoing realignment within the Republican Party, where loyalty to Trump often trumps traditional incumbency advantages.