A candidate who had passed away after the deadline to remove names from the ballot was leading the Republican primary in Indiana’s 7th District, which encompasses most of Indianapolis.
Jennifer Pace was declared the winner by the Indianapolis Star with over 99% of precincts reporting. She had garnered 31.2% of the vote, surpassing retired Army Lt. Catherine Ping, who had 29.9% of the vote. Retired postal worker Phillip Davis came in at 25.7%, and former Evansville mayor candidate Gabe Whitley received 13.1% support.
Ping has run for the 7th District seat four times in the past, including in 2008, 2012, 2014, and 2016.
The Associated Press had not yet declared a winner at the time of publication. Pace, who passed away suddenly in early March at the age of 59, had previously run for the nomination in 2022, earning 12% of the vote.
Despite Pace’s death, her Ballotpedia page did not mention it, and no obituary was found. The Indiana Republican Party confirmed Pace’s passing in response to an inquiry from the Truth Voices.
Per Indiana Code, a caucus of precinct committeemen in the 7th District will be called by the State Chair to fill the candidate vacancy.
The eventual GOP nominee will go up against incumbent Democratic Rep. Andre Carson, who has held the seat since 2007. Carson is likely to win the November election, given the district’s Democratic-leaning composition.
