Indiana primary results: These House candidates picked up key 2024 victories

As Republicans and Democrats battle for control of Congress in 2024, Indiana held a handful of key primaries on Tuesday while the nation gears up for November's general election.

Political observers trying to predict the balance of power in the lower chamber have kept their eyes on the 17 Republicans representing districts President Joe Biden picked up in the 2020 presidential election.

While none of those districts are in Indiana, three of the state's nine House seats are open, with multiple other lawmakers facing challengers on Tuesday's primary election ballot in the Hoosier State.

Here's a look at the results from some of Tuesday's primaries that could help determine the makeup of the U.S. House. You can also catch up with the USA TODAY Network's live coverage of other Indiana races.

1st Congressional District

Democratic incumbent for Indiana’s 1st District Frank Mrvan faced no opposition in his primary, meaning he secured his party's nomination when polls closed. He’s served the northwest Indiana district since 2021, but Democrats have represented the area for decades.

However, Republicans have eyed the district as a potential pick up while they try to expand their razor-thin majority in the House.

On the Republican side, carpenter Mark Leyva, Lake County councilman Randy Niemeyer and small business owner Ben Ruiz were each fighting for their party’s nomination, though Niemeyer quickly clinched victory Tuesday night. The councilman was favored to win the race with support from national Republicans.

3rd Congressional District

There’s no incumbent in northeast Indiana's 3rd District − Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks is running for one of Indiana’s U.S. Senate seats − and eight candidates are competing for the GOP nomination.

Among them, nonprofit executive Tim Smith, former Allen County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Davis, former 3rd District Rep. Marlin Stutzman and state Sen. Andy Zay raised the most money, including personal loans.

Project manager Grant Bucher, maintenance technician and veteran Mike Felker, former Senate staffer and veteran Jon Kenworthy, and Adams County resident Eric Whalen are also running for the Republican nomination.

Results had not been confirmed at time of publication.

4th Congressional District

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Baird was being challenged by Charles Bookwalter and John Piper for the party’s nomination in the 4th District, stretching from the center of the state to its western border. Baird has held his position since 2019, and he won the primary Tuesday night.

Rimpi Girn and Derrick Holder were fighting for the Democratic nomination, which Holder picked up.

5th Congressional District

The competition for Indiana’s 5th district, located in the center of the state, saw a major shift when incumbent Victoria Spartz entered the race in February, reversing her decision not to seek reelection. Spartz, a Republican, was first elected in 2020.

Challengers who raised money include Chuck Goodrich, a current state representative and CEO of Gaylor Electric; Raju Chinthala, founder and president of the Indiana India Business Council and a speech pathologist; Mark Hurt, a lawyer who previously worked on health care policy; and Max Engling, who previously worked under former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy.

Other Republican candidates included former accountant Patrick Malayter, foster child advocacy nonprofit president Matthew Peiffer, businessman and veteran LD Powell, and property manager Larry Savage Jr.

Spartz won the primary Tuesday night, leading Goodrich and Engling.

She will face Democrat Deborah Pickett,  who served in the U.S. Army Reserve.

More: Here's who is running against Spartz and Goodrich in Indiana's 5th Congressional District

6th Congressional District

With incumbent U.S. Rep. Greg Pence’s decision not to run for reelection, the 6th District’s Republican candidate pool filled up quickly. The district stretches east to the Ohio border.

Jefferson Shreve, a 2023 Indianapolis mayoral candidate, was the top fundraiser as of mid-April, thanks to a $4.5 million personal loan to his campaign, and won the primary Tuesday night. State Rep. Mike Speedy and businessman Jamison Carrier also loaned their campaigns money − $1.3 million and $750,000, respectively. Carrier raised the most outside donations of all candidates.

Other candidates included state Sen. Jeff Raatz, former state Rep. John Jacob, former state Sen. Bill Frazier and veteran Darin Childress.

Cynthia Wirth ran unopposed for the 6th District Democratic nomination, so she won the nomination when polls closed. She ran in 2022 and was defeated by Pence, who received nearly double her votes.

More: With Greg Pence out, 7 Republicans vie for Indy-based 6th Congressional District

7th Congressional District

Democratic U.S. Rep. André Carson has served this Indianapolis district since 2007, when he won a special election victory to fill his grandmother’s seat: That’s nine terms.

He was being opposed this year by Pierre Pullins and Curtis Godfrey, both veterans. They said they were running to give 7th District residents more choice, though Carson clinched victory on Tuesday.

Republicans have three options. Retired Army Lt. Catherine Ping has run for 7th District representative five times total: 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016 and now 2024. In 2014, she came within 13 points of Carson. Philip Davis, a retired postal worker, is also running to oppose Carson in November.

Republican Gabe Whitley is the third candidate. A former candidate for Evansville mayor, Whitley has faced controversy, including accusations of defamation and confusion over campaign donations.

Jennifer Pace will be on the ballot but passed away from a heart attack.

Results had not been confirmed by at time of publication.

More: Here's who's challenging Rep. André Carson in Indiana's 7th Congressional District

8th Congressional District

Indiana’s 8th District is another case in which the incumbent, Rep. Larry Bucshon, is not running for reelection. Eight Republicans and four Democrats were vying for his seat in what some call a “free-for-all.”

Out of the Republican candidates for the southwest Indiana district, five have been involved in politics to some extent. John Hostettler is a former 8th District representative, and Mark Messmer, who ultimately won the race, is a current state senator.

Dominick Jack Kavanaugh is a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army and previously worked in White House communications, Luke Misner is a former Sullivan County commissioner, and Kristi Risk is chair of the Owen County Republican Party.

Other Republican candidates included banker and real estate broker Jim Case, case manager and former correctional officer Jeremy Heath, and surgeon Richard Moss.

The Democratic primary ballot was also contested. Movie theater manager Erik Hurt, veteran Peter Priest II, musician and sales manager Edward Upton Sein and bus driver Michael Talarzyk were competing for their party’s nomination, but Hurt picked up a win.

The district has gone back and forth between parties.

Contact IndyStar politics intern Nadia Scharf at nscharf@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @nadiaascharf.

Contributing: Ken Tran and Marina Pitofsky, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana primary results 2024: Here's which Republicans, Democrats won