Who's running in Indiana's 4th congressional district
2 candidates are on the ballot. Below is what each one says they stand for, what they have actually done in office or in public life, and the arguments published for and against them — each quoted from a named source rather than summarised by us.
2 candidates · ballot order · Jim Baird currently holds this seat
Medium confidenceMedium confidenceThe candidate's stated positions and basic record are documented, but coverage is thin — often little independent reporting, or criticism from only one side.What would raise it: More independent reporting, a documented voting record, or published criticism from a named opponent would raise this.
What they say they stand for
Their own words. Claims, not verified facts.
Lowering costs by cutting federal spending, supporting energy independence and reducing regulation.
Securing the border through stronger enforcement and more resources for law enforcement.
Lowering health care costs and expanding rural access through competition, telehealth and lighter regulation.
Fiscal responsibility and living within the government's means.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
US Representative for Indiana's 4th District since January 2019.
Indiana House of Representatives for eight years, including the Ways and Means Committee.
Vietnam War veteran and two-time Purple Heart recipient.
Serves on the House Agriculture, Foreign Affairs and Science, Space, and Technology committees.
Won the May 5, 2026 Republican primary with 60.5% against Craig Haggard (30.5%) and John Piper (8.9%).
Endorsed by President Trump, the Indiana Farm Bureau AgELECT PAC and the NRA Political Victory Fund.
Raised $358,292 through June 30, 2026, with $91,560 on hand.
Arguments in favor
He brings real-world experience at a time when families are struggling with costs and Washington is out of touch, and will keep working to restore accountability, strengthen the economy and protect freedoms.
— Jim Baird, candidate questionnaire to Based in Lafayette
He has kept the backing of President Trump in every race since 2018, and Republican primary voters returned him by a two-to-one margin over a well-funded state legislator.
— Baird campaign statements, reported by IndyStar and the Purdue Exponent
Arguments against
His primary challenger argued the district needs someone who will show up, be accountable and answer every constituent, and said Baird's congressional mailers featuring his son Beau, a state representative, looked like grooming a successor for the seat. Baird called that claim baseless and disgusting.
— Craig Haggard, Republican primary opponent, reported by IndyStar
Rep. Craig Haggard said he was 'sick and tired of people going to D.C. and worrying more about a vote based on them being reelected than doing the right thing' in launching his challenge to Baird.
— Craig Haggard, Republican primary opponent, reported by IndyStar
What we couldn’t verify
No DCCC material naming Baird in 2026 could be found; the district is not on the committee's target list.
No published criticism of Baird by Drew Cox by name could be found; Cox's campaign criticises the district's elected officials in general terms.
Baird's campaign website could not be located, so his positions are taken from his questionnaire answers and news coverage.
Whether Baird will debate Cox had not been reported.
Regulating data centres and other industries that pass their utility costs on to residential customers.
A single-payer health care system, and restoring Medicaid funding that rural hospitals rely on.
Holding ICE to the same standards as other law enforcement — no masks, judicially signed warrants.
Overturning Citizens United and getting big money out of politics; his campaign takes no corporate PAC donations.
Expanding mobile integrated health care to address lost prenatal and maternal care in rural Indiana.
What they’ve actually done
Documented record from official sources.
Veteran; visiting instructor of music at Purdue University.
Won the May 5, 2026 Democratic primary with 30.4% in an eight-candidate field.
Endorsed by Track AIPAC.
Raised $20,377 through June 30, 2026, with $6,862 on hand.
Has not held elected office.
Arguments in favor
The district's elected officials have failed working people; his campaign puts young people and their priorities at the front and refuses corporate PAC money so its interests lie entirely with voters.
— Drew Cox campaign site
He built a volunteer operation of mostly young people over a year and won a crowded primary by about eight points, running on the motto 'People over Profits'.
— Drew Cox, statement to the Purdue Exponent
Arguments against
He had raised about $20,000 against Baird's $358,000 by mid-year, in a district forecasters rate safe Republican and where the Republican primary is widely treated as the deciding contest.
— Federal Election Commission filings; forecaster ratings; IndyStar
What we couldn’t verify
No published criticism of Cox by name could be found — not from Baird's campaign, the NRCC, or Lafayette-area coverage in the Purdue Exponent, Based in Lafayette or the Journal & Courier.
He won the nomination with under a third of the primary vote; how united local Democrats are behind him was not reported.
Whether he will debate Baird had not been reported.
Positions and criticism are quoted from the named sources, not our assessments. This is built to help you start getting informed — confirm the official candidate list with your election authority before you vote.
Indiana held its primaries on May 5, 2026. Two candidates appear on the November ballot: Republican incumbent Jim Baird and Democrat Drew Cox. The roster is confirmed against the Indiana Secretary of State's certified general election candidate list, updated August 27, 2026. That list also carries one write-in candidate, independent David E. Bokash; write-in candidates are not printed on the Indiana ballot, so he is not profiled here. The district covers west-central Indiana from Morgan County north to Jasper and Newton counties, including Lafayette, Purdue University and Boone and Hendricks counties. Its lines are unchanged because the Indiana Senate rejected mid-decade redistricting in December 2025. The contest that drew attention was the Republican primary, where Baird beat state Rep. Craig Haggard 60.5% to 30.5%. Forecasters rate the general election safe Republican. Through June 30, 2026 Baird had raised $358,292 to Cox's $20,377.
This is one contest on a longer ballot
A Indiana ballot also carries state legislative districts, county offices, judicial seats and often local questions — and which of them you vote on is decided by your street address, not your city or ZIP code.