U.S. House, Indiana 4th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Indiana's 4th Congressional District?
Jim Baird has the strongest record in Indiana's 4th Congressional District. Jim Baird scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Drew Cox at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Jim Baird's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Drew Cox's highest marks are communication. David Bokash (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Republican · incumbent
Strongest record
Jim Baird
62 / 100
Public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 70
- Performance
- 63
Write-in
David Bokash
On the ballot as David E. Bokash
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 5 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Drew Cox
53 / 100
Public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 55
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Jim Baird
- Mark against2019-06-28
The FEC fined his campaign committee, Elect Jim Baird for Congress, $6,538 for 2018 48-hour contribution notices; the fine was paid May 9, 2019.
Source: FEC administrative fines search
- On the record2026-09-30
IndyStar, citing a Washington Post analysis, reported he expensed $39,789 for D.C. lodging and meals in 2025, the most of any House member, under a reimbursement program that does not require receipts.
- On the record2021-01-06
Voted Yea on the Jan. 6 to 7, 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electors, after signing the December 2020 Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021, Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief of 126 Representatives
- Credit2023-10-06
Sponsored H.R. 3888 to strengthen benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida; its provisions were enacted through S. 112, signed Oct. 6, 2023.
David Bokash
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Drew Cox
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Jim Baird. His 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed Aug. 13, 2026, after an extension; the Clerk index lists no periodic transaction reports for him. No House Ethics Committee conduct finding found.
Source: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10078375
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. A House candidate financial disclosure is on file (filed Sept. 17, 2026) and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10082895, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jim Baird. Voted against the April 2024 Ukraine aid bill and the December 2023 defense authorization conference report, both backed by Speaker Johnson and the House Republican leadership.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 151, 2024, House Clerk Roll Call 723, 2023
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jim Baird. No public record found.
David Bokash. Gave a full, unedited interview for WFYI's 2026 voter guide.
Drew Cox. Gave a full, unedited interview for WFYI's 2026 voter guide and holds public campaign events, including one at the Cass County fairgrounds in September 2026.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Pharos-Tribune, Sept. 26, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jim Baird. A Vietnam veteran, former county commissioner and eight-year state representative, in Congress since 2019. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found; a 2021 House security screening fine was overturned on his appeal.
Sources: Office site, About, House Committee on Ethics statement, Dec. 13, 2021
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Jim Baird. Voted Yea on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electors, and signed the December 2020 Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021, Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief of 126 Representatives
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. Served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 2008 to 2012. No official finding against him found.
Source: Ballotpedia, Drew Cox
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jim Baird. In the U.S. House since January 2019, seeking a fifth term; earlier eight years in the Indiana House and a county commissioner.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Office site, About
David Bokash. A retired engineer and business consultant; first run for office.
Drew Cox. Four years in the Marine Corps, a doctorate in music and work as a visiting instructor at Purdue University. First run for public office.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Drew Cox, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jim Baird. Serves on the Agriculture (vice chair of the Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology subcommittee), Foreign Affairs, and Science, Space, and Technology committees.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
David Bokash. Proposes across-the-board spending cuts of about 5 percent a year set by committees, in general terms.
Drew Cox. Publishes a policy platform on political corruption, workers' rights, health care and veterans, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jim Baird. Offers an e-newsletter and text alerts and answered a 2026 primary survey on his priorities. Did not accept WFYI's general election survey; has not completed Ballotpedia's survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026
David Bokash. Gave a full WFYI interview and publishes a campaign site.
Drew Cox. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, gave a full WFYI interview and publishes a policy platform.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Drew Cox, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jim Baird. A lifelong resident of west central Indiana who lives in Greencastle and served as a county commissioner. FEC by-state totals show about 72 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana.
Sources: Office site, About, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
David Bokash. Lives in Lebanon, in Boone County, within the district.
Drew Cox. Lives in Lafayette and describes himself as a lifelong Hoosier. FEC by-state totals show about 67 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jim Baird. The FEC fined his campaign committee $6,538 in 2019 for 2018 48-hour contribution notices; it was paid. Current committee reports are on file through June 30, 2026.
Sources: FEC administrative fines search, FEC candidate page
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine record found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jim Baird. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.829 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.464, meeting expectations. His bill on benefits for children of Vietnam veterans born with spina bifida was enacted through S. 112 in 2023.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, H.R. 3888 (118th Congress), GovTrack, enacted legislation
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jim Baird. Missed 80 of 3,869 roll call votes, 2.1 percent, from January 2019 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jim Baird. Runs a district office in Danville, takes casework requests and lists mobile office hours. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jim Baird. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -0.11561 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 155 of 436.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jim Baird. No public record found.
David Bokash. No public record found.
Drew Cox. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 6, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in Indiana's 4th Congressional District?
Jim Baird has the strongest record in Indiana's 4th Congressional District. Jim Baird scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Drew Cox at 53, as of October 6, 2026. Jim Baird's highest marks are relevant experience and roots in the constituency. Drew Cox's highest marks are communication. David Bokash (5 of 15 criteria) has too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Indiana's 4th Congressional District in 2026?
Jim Baird (Republican, incumbent), David Bokash (Write-in), Drew Cox (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jim Baird a good candidate for Congress?
Jim Baird scores 62 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 13 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 70 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is David Bokash a good candidate for Congress?
David Bokash has public evidence on 5 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Drew Cox a good candidate for Congress?
Drew Cox scores 53 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 8 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 55 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Indiana race scored, and the Indiana 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.