Indiana voters elect state's first gay congressman, JD Ford

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        Longshot JD Ford elected first out gay member of Congress from Indiana, unseating GOP incumbent
      The gay state senator unseated Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz.
 
   J.D. Ford

        J.D. Ford for Congress
    
 Daniel Reynolds 
          
          Nov 03, 2026
          
Daniel Reynolds
Daniel Reynolds is the editor of social media for The Advocate. A native of New Jersey, he writes about entertainment, health, and politics.
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JD Ford has made LGBTQ+ history in Indiana with a remarkable upset in the conservative state.
The Democrat bested incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz to triumph in the state’s 5th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ data, where Ford led the race at 9:36 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.
With more than 95 percent of votes counted, Ford led Spartz 51 percent to 48 percent.
Ford’s victory is remarkable, as a Democrat hasn’t held this seat since 1990. Spartz was first elected in 2020 and was running for her fourth consecutive term.
Ford, who is gay, is now the first out member of Congress from Indiana. The state senator had broken barriers before. In 2020, he unseated a 13-year incumbent who campaigned against same-sex marriage and became the first out member of the Indiana General Assembly. 
President Trump’s low approval ratings, a result of issues like his controversial war in Iran, affordability, and ICE raids, have created opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states like Indiana, where former Vice President Mike Pence was once governor.
 
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JD Ford has made LGBTQ+ history in Indiana with a remarkable upset in the conservative state.

The Democrat bested incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz to triumph in the state’s 5th Congressional District, according to Decision Desk HQ data, where Ford led the race at 9:36 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.

With more than 95 percent of votes counted, Ford led Spartz 51 percent to 48 percent.

Ford’s victory is remarkable, as a Democrat hasn’t held this seat since 1990. Spartz was first elected in 2020 and was running for her fourth consecutive term.

Ford, who is gay, is now the first out member of Congress from Indiana. The state senator had broken barriers before. In 2020, he unseated a 13-year incumbent who campaigned against same-sex marriage and became the first out member of the Indiana General Assembly.

President Trump’s low approval ratings, a result of issues like his controversial war in Iran, affordability, and ICE raids, have created opportunities for Democrats in traditionally red states like Indiana, where former Vice President Mike Pence was once governor.

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Longshot JD Ford elected first out gay member of Congress from Indiana, unseating GOP incumbent

The gay state senator unseated Republican Congresswoman Victoria Spartz.

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