Primary elections in Indiana and Ohio set up new electoral contests and highlight Trump’s influence over the Republican Party
The primary elections held in Indiana and Ohio drew the new battle lines for the midterm elections in the United States, which will take place in November, while also underscoring Donald Trump‘s enduring influence over Republican voters.
In Ohio, voters on Tuesday chose the candidates who will compete in the decisive election. Democrats picked former Senator Sherrod Brown to take on Republican Jon Husted, who took the seat of Vice President JD Vance after he left his Senate seat to run for the vice presidency. The race is considered one of the most important, as Democrats face a significant challenge to regain control of the Senate, which currently has a 53-47 Republican majority. Brown presents himself as an economic populist capable of attracting support from voters across different parties, while Republican groups have pledged to invest heavily in the defense of Husted’s candidacy.
Key candidacies in the Buckeye State
Also in Ohio, Trump ally Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican nomination for governor of the state. Ramaswamy, who had a brief stint as co-leader of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) panel during the Trump administration, will face Democrat Amy Acton, who headed the state’s Department of Health during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In Indiana, meanwhile, Trump’s continuing influence over the Republican Party was evident, even in the face of a drop in his approval rating, which has been hurt by economic uncertainty and the war waged by the U.S. and Israel in Iran. The president of the United States had promised to retaliate against Republicans who opposed his requests for Indiana to redraw its congressional districts ahead of the midterm elections. Indiana was one of the few Republican-controlled states that resisted the president’s pressure amid a broad wave of redistricting in other states.
On Tuesday, five candidates for state offices who had been targeted by Trump lost their primaries. One candidate was successful, while one race remained too close to call. State Senator Linda Rogers, one of the defeated Republicans, said Trump’s successful effort to topple her candidacy sent a clear message to other party members considering opposing the president.
“If someone asks you to make a tough decision, you may think twice about your conscience and what is best for your community, rather than what is best for you and your career,” Rogers said.
Challenges for other Republicans
The primaries come shortly before Representative Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, both Republicans, face tough challengers in their bids. Trump is opposing both incumbents. Massie has been one of the administration’s most vocal critics, especially regarding the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and the Justice Department’s handling of documents related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Cassidy, for his part, voted to impeach Trump in 2021 over his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and remained a critic during Trump’s 2024 reelection campaign.
Although Trump’s influence proved strong in the Indiana primaries, that does not necessarily guarantee Republican success in the general election. Recent polls indicate a drop in support for Trump among independent voters, who are not affiliated with either party and often play a decisive role in close races. One example is a recent NPR/PBS News/Marist poll, which found that 63% of U.S. residents assign “a great deal or a good amount of the blame” to Trump for high fuel prices. The rate was the same among independent voters.
