What races to watch in Indiana’s primary election

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Two members of Indiana’s best political team said they’re watching state Senate races that involve incumbents who voted against redrawing the state’s congressional maps. Eight Republican state senators who voted against mid-decade redistricting in December face primary challengers this spring, all of whom have been endorsed by both President Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Braun. Republican strategist and “All INdiana Politics” contributor Lacey Berkshire said it’s impossible to say how any of those races turn out, but it presents an interesting dynamic: Trump, Braun, Attorney General Rokita and members of Indiana’s congressional delegation against Senate President pro tempore Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, and the Senate Majority Campaign Committee, a PAC set up by the Senate Republican caucus. Berkshire and Democratic strategist Brad Boswell both said they’re particularly watching the race between Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger, and Brian Schmutzler. “I think you’re going to have enough blood taken from both sides where both the MAGA crowd and kind of Sen. Bray and the Senate Majority Campaign Committee, everybody’s gonna be able to call victory, which of course means no one won,” Berkshire said. Boswell said he’s paying especially close attention to Sen. Greg Goode’s primary. Goode represents Terre Haute and faces two primary challengers, Alexandra Wilson and Brenda Wilson, who are not related to each other. That race has drawn some national attention, with Alexandra Wilson claiming the White House approached her about accepting a federal job in exchange for withdrawing from the race. Goode was the only Republican state lawmaker to hold town halls on the redistricting question in the weeks leading up to the legislative session and did not publicly disclose his position until the day of the vote. “That’s a very pretty purple district, so if he goes down, that’s a really good opportunity for Democrats in the fall,” he said. “I think that’ll be kind of be a bellweather for what happens in the future.” Berkshire and Boswell said they’re also intrigued by a Senate race that does not involve redistricting. Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne, faces a challenge from Darren Vogt. Brown voted for redrawing the maps and has the backing of President Trump, but Vogt has been endorsed by Sen. Jim Banks and Attorney General Todd Rokita. Rokita has attacked Brown for her initial opposition to an immigration enforcement bill. Early voting for the 2026 primary ends at noon Monday. On Primary Day itself, which is Tuesday, the polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time. “All INdiana Politics” airs at 9:30 a.m. Sundays on WISH-TV. How to vote and check your registration