Spartz reverses decision, will run for House again

Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) announced Monday she will seek another term in the House, reversing her decision last year to forgo another run. 

“Deciding where your duty lies — family, work, or country, is never an easy task. Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family,” Spartz said in a statement.  

“However, looking where we are today, and urged by many of my constituents, I do not believe I would be able to deliver this Congress, with the current failed leadership in Washington, D.C., on the important issues for our nation that I have worked very hard on,” she continued. 

Spartz announced last year that she would not run for another term, saying in a statement “being a working mom is tough,” and she wanted to spend more time with her daughters in Indiana.

But in recent months, the Indiana Republican had suggested she could reconsider that decision, saying on NewsNation’s “The Hill” in September, “I do need to regroup because I think my party is failing the people.” 

Although the Indiana Republican was not among the eight GOP lawmakers to oust former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in October, she garnered attention for voting “present” during the initial Speakership battle. She told reporters at the time, “My concern is that … we didn’t come together yet.” 

The Ukrainian-born lawmaker entered Congress in 2021. The solidly red district in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District went for former President Trump in 2020 by 16 points.