U.S. House, Indiana 6th Congressional District · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in Indiana's 6th Congressional District?
Jefferson Shreve has the strongest record in Indiana's 6th Congressional District. Jefferson Shreve scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Jefferson Shreve's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Cinde Wirth (7 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
Jefferson Shreve
65 / 100
Public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 80
- Performance
- 63
Democratic
Cinde Wirth
On the ballot as Cynthia (Cinde) Wirth
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 65
- 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.
Jefferson Shreve
- On the record2025-06-23
After reports on hundreds of 2025 trades in his two charitable remainder trusts, the trusts sold about 250 stock holdings in May 2025; his office said he never traded personally held stocks in Congress.
Source: IndyStar, June 23, 2025
- On the record2023-07-13
As the Republican nominee for Indianapolis mayor he proposed letting the city set stricter gun laws, a break from Republican council and legislative colleagues.
Source: IndyStar, July 13, 2023
Cinde Wirth
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.
Jefferson Shreve. His 2025 annual financial disclosure was filed Aug. 12, 2026, after an extension; Clerk periodic transaction reports were filed within 45 days of each trade. No House Ethics Committee matter found.
Sources: House Clerk financial disclosure, Filing ID 10075352, House Committee on Ethics, site search
Cinde Wirth. A House candidate financial disclosure is on file (filed May 11, 2026) and committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine against her committees found.
Sources: House Clerk candidate financial disclosure, Filing ID 10077337, FEC administrative fines search
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Jefferson Shreve. As a 2023 Indianapolis mayoral candidate he proposed letting the city set stricter gun laws, which IndyStar called a break from his Republican colleagues on the City-County Council and in the legislature.
Source: IndyStar, July 13, 2023
Cinde Wirth. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Jefferson Shreve. Held an AARP telephone town hall with district residents in April 2026 and answered a Mirror Indy and Reflector questionnaire. Did not accept WFYI's interview request. No 2026 general election debate found.
Sources: AARP Indiana, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 23, 2026
Cinde Wirth. Gave WFYI a full, unedited 2026 interview and answered the UIndy Reflector questionnaire.
Sources: WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 23, 2026, UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Jefferson Shreve. Served on the Indianapolis City-County Council and in Congress since 2025, after a business career. No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
Cinde Wirth. 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.
Jefferson Shreve. Took and kept the oaths of Indianapolis City-County Council member and U.S. representative (since January 2025). No official finding of misuse of office found.
Source: GovTrack
Cinde Wirth. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Jefferson Shreve. Two appointed stints on the Indianapolis City-County Council (2013 to 2016 and 2018 to 2020) and a first term in the U.S. House.
Sources: Wikipedia, Jefferson Shreve, GovTrack
Cinde Wirth. Taught high school biology and environmental science for more than 10 years, ran a small business and was a science and education fellow in Congress in 2018 to 2019. Has not held public office.
Source: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Jefferson Shreve. Sits on the House Appropriations Committee and its Commerce-Justice-Science, Homeland Security and Transportation-HUD subcommittees.
Source: GovTrack, committee membership
Cinde Wirth. Publishes priorities on working families, public education, health care and the environment, in general terms.
Source: Campaign site
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Jefferson Shreve. Publishes an office newsletter, held a telephone town hall and answered the Mirror Indy and Reflector questionnaire. Has not completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey.
Sources: Office site, home page, AARP Indiana, UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026, Ballotpedia, Jefferson Shreve
Cinde Wirth. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 survey, gave WFYI a full interview, answered the Reflector questionnaire and publishes campaign priorities.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Cynthia Wirth, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 23, 2026, Campaign site
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Jefferson Shreve. Born and raised in Indianapolis and lives on its south side. FEC by-state totals show about 58 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana.
Sources: Wikipedia, Jefferson Shreve, UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Cinde Wirth. A long-time resident of Bartholomew County who lives in Columbus, most of which is in the district. FEC by-state totals show 100 percent of itemized individual contributions from Indiana.
Sources: UIndy Reflector, Oct. 5, 2026, WFYI 2026 Voter Guide, Sept. 23, 2026, FEC contribution totals by state
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Jefferson Shreve. Founded Storage Express, sold in 2022 to Extra Space Storage for $590 million. Campaign reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026; no FEC administrative fine found.
Sources: Wikipedia, Jefferson Shreve, FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
Cinde Wirth. Campaign committee reports are on file with the FEC through June 30, 2026. No FEC administrative fine against her committees found.
Sources: FEC candidate page, FEC administrative fines search
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Jefferson Shreve. No public record found.
Cinde Wirth. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Jefferson Shreve. Missed 12 of 676 roll call votes, 1.8 percent, from January 2025 to September 2026.
Source: GovTrack, missed votes
Cinde Wirth. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Jefferson Shreve. Runs district offices in Greenwood and Richmond and offers help with federal agencies. No published casework totals found.
Source: Office site, home page
Cinde Wirth. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Jefferson Shreve. No public record found.
Cinde Wirth. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Jefferson Shreve. No public record found.
Cinde Wirth. 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 6th Congressional District?
Jefferson Shreve has the strongest record in Indiana's 6th Congressional District. Jefferson Shreve scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, as of October 9, 2026. Jefferson Shreve's highest marks are roots in the constituency and relevant experience. Cinde Wirth (7 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 6th Congressional District in 2026?
Jefferson Shreve (Republican, incumbent), Cinde Wirth (Democratic). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Jefferson Shreve a good candidate for Congress?
Jefferson Shreve scores 65 out of 100 on the Ballot Standard, with public evidence on 12 of 15 criteria: character 50 of 100, qualifications 80 of 100, performance 63 of 100. The standard measures character, qualifications and performance, not policy positions.
Is Cinde Wirth a good candidate for Congress?
Cinde Wirth has public evidence on 7 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.
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.