U.S. House, Indiana 5th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Indiana's 5th Congressional District?
J.D. Ford has the strongest record in Indiana's 5th Congressional District. J.D. Ford scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Victoria Spartz at 59, as of October 9, 2026. J.D. Ford's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Victoria Spartz's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Democratic
Strongest record
J.D. Ford
64 / 100
Public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Republican · incumbent
Victoria Spartz
59 / 100
Public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 60
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- 38
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.
J.D. Ford
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Victoria Spartz
- Mark against2024-06-28
Was cited for carrying an unloaded handgun through Dulles Airport security; she paid a TSA federal civil penalty, and the state misdemeanor charge was dismissed Sept. 20, 2024 after a gun safety course.
- On the record2024-11-12
The House Ethics Committee reviewed the airport weapons charge, voted not to impanel an investigative subcommittee and closed the matter with no further action.
- On the record2024-12-17
Announced she would not take part in the House Republican conference or its committee assignments in the 119th Congress; she now sits on the Joint Economic Committee.
Sources: IndyStar, Dec. 18, 2024, GovTrack, committee membership
- On the record2022-05-06
IndyStar reported LegiStorm data showing her office had the highest staff turnover of any House member in fiscal year 2021.
Source: IndyStar, May 6, 2022
- On the record2021-01-06
Voted Nay on both House objections to certified electoral votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania on Jan. 6 and 7, 2021.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
- On the record2021-09-27
Reported a $15,001 to $50,000 stock purchase in a family account 45 days after the Aug. 13, 2021 trade, the last day allowed; Business Insider and IndyStar reported the disclosure as late.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20019527, Business Insider, Sept. 2021, IndyStar via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026
- Credit2025-03-28
Held open in-person town halls in Westfield and Muncie in March 2025 after national Republican leaders advised members not to hold them.
Sources: IndyStar, March 28, 2025, WFYI, March 29, 2025
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
J.D. Ford. A House candidate financial disclosure is on file (filed April 3, 2026) and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine or ethics finding found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10074652, FEC administrative fines search
Victoria Spartz. A $15,001 to $50,000 Simon Property Group purchase on Aug. 13, 2021 was reported Sept. 27, 2021, 45 days later, inside the STOCK Act's 45-day limit; Business Insider and IndyStar called it late. No House Ethics finding.
Sources: House Clerk periodic transaction report, Filing ID 20019527, Business Insider, Sept. 2021, IndyStar via Yahoo News, Sept. 24, 2026
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
J.D. Ford. No public record found.
Victoria Spartz. Voted against the April 2024 Ukraine aid bill, the September 2025 continuing resolution and the January 2026 consolidated appropriations bill, all backed by Speaker Johnson, and in December 2024 declined Republican conference committee assignments.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 151, 2024, House Clerk Roll Call 281, 2025, House Clerk Roll Call 45, 2026, IndyStar, Dec. 18, 2024
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
J.D. Ford. Gave WFYI a full, unedited 2026 interview and took part in an April 2026 Democratic primary forum in Fishers. No 2026 general election debate with Spartz found.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Indiana Public Radio, April 16, 2026
Victoria Spartz. Holds open in-person town halls, including a 2024 series and March 2025 events in Westfield and Muncie, and gave WFYI a full 2026 interview. No 2026 general election debate with Ford found.
Sources: WFYI, March 29, 2025, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
J.D. Ford. Indiana state senator since 2018. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: Ballotpedia, J.D. Ford
Victoria Spartz. No censure or ethics finding on conduct. The 2024 TSA civil penalty for an unloaded handgun at Dulles is shown in the record; the House Ethics Committee closed the matter with no further action.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
J.D. Ford. Took and kept the oath of an Indiana state senator from 2018. No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: Ballotpedia, J.D. Ford
Victoria Spartz. In office since January 2021; voted Nay on the January 2021 objections to Arizona's and Pennsylvania's certified electors. Not a member when the December 2020 Texas v. Pennsylvania amicus brief was filed.
Sources: House Clerk Roll Call 10, 2021, House Clerk Roll Call 11, 2021
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
J.D. Ford. Two terms in the Indiana Senate, District 29, since November 2018.
Sources: Ballotpedia, J.D. Ford, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026
Victoria Spartz. U.S. representative since 2021, seeking a fourth term; earlier an Indiana state senator. A CPA by background.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Wikipedia, Victoria Spartz
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
J.D. Ford. Was ranking minority member of several Indiana Senate committees from 2019 to 2022, including Elections and Utilities, and has filed data center transparency legislation.
Sources: Ballotpedia, J.D. Ford, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026
Victoria Spartz. Sits on the Joint Economic Committee after declining Republican conference committee seats; has introduced health care competition and price transparency bills.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
J.D. Ford. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, gave WFYI a full interview, took part in a primary forum and publishes a platform page.
Sources: Ballotpedia, J.D. Ford, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Campaign site
Victoria Spartz. Holds town halls, publishes an office newsletter and gave WFYI a full interview. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, WFYI, March 29, 2025, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, Ballotpedia, Victoria Spartz
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
J.D. Ford. Lives in Carmel, in the district, and represents parts of Carmel in the state Senate. FEC by-state totals show about 93 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 21, 2026, WFYI, Jan. 14, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Victoria Spartz. Lives in Carmel; came to the United States 26 years ago and first worked at a Hamilton County bank. FEC by-state totals show about 49 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.
J.D. Ford. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Victoria Spartz. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
J.D. Ford. No public record found.
Victoria Spartz. Legislative Effectiveness Score of 0.315 in the 118th Congress against a benchmark of 1.194, below expectations (also below in the 117th). Her one enacted bill named a post office.
Sources: Center for Effective Lawmaking House dataset, 93rd to 118th Congress, GovTrack, enacted legislation
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
J.D. Ford. No public record found.
Victoria Spartz. Missed 158 of 2,915 roll call votes, 5.4 percent, from January 2021 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
J.D. Ford. No public record found.
Victoria Spartz. Runs district offices in Noblesville and Muncie, offers casework and mobile office hours, and holds regular town halls.
Sources: Office site, home page, WFYI, March 29, 2025
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
J.D. Ford. No public record found.
Victoria Spartz. Lugar Center Bipartisan Index score of -1.01876 in the latest posted House scores (118th Congress, 2023), ranked 338 of 436, in the bottom quarter.
Source: Lugar Center and McCourt School Bipartisan Index, House Scores
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
J.D. Ford. No public record found.
Victoria Spartz. 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 9, 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 5th Congressional District?
J.D. Ford has the strongest record in Indiana's 5th Congressional District. J.D. Ford scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, ahead of Victoria Spartz at 59, as of October 9, 2026. J.D. Ford's highest marks are relevant experience and command of the job. Victoria Spartz's highest marks are relevant experience and courage. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in Indiana's 5th Congressional District in 2026?
J.D. Ford (Democratic), Victoria Spartz (Republican, incumbent). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is J.D. Ford a good candidate for Congress?
J.D. Ford scores 64 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 9 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance no record. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Victoria Spartz a good candidate for Congress?
Victoria Spartz scores 59 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 14 of 15 criteria: character 60 of 100, qualifications 75 of 100, performance 38 of 100. 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.