Democrat J.D. Ford defeats three-term Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, in an upset that leads to a surprise Democratic hold of a seat previously held by a Republican. The Associated Press calls the race for Ford at about 1:03 a.m., with Ford winning 51.7% to Spartz’s 48.3% as 99% of votes are reported counted.
The outlets agree the result was unexpected, framing it as a major upset for the Republican side in a district that had previously supported Donald Trump by a wide margin in 2024. PBS and The Hill describe the loss as surprising to analysts and observers, while The Hill adds the district’s general geographic location and notes Ford’s background as a state senator. Across coverage, the focus remains on the seat change and the magnitude of the upset rather than on detailed policy disputes or campaign-specific claims.
