Cynthia
(Cinde) Wirth
Democratic challenger Cinde Wirth, a former science teacher and small-business owner, is running against incumbent Rep. Jefferson Shreve in Indiana's 6th District in 2026.
- sources
- 11
- positions
- 11
- endorsements
- 3
Background
Cynthia "Cinde" Wirth is a Democratic candidate running for U.S. Representative in Indiana's 6th Congressional District in the November 2026 election, challenging incumbent Republican Jefferson Shreve. She resides in Columbus, Indiana, and is described as a long-time Bartholomew County resident and small-business owner. 9
Wirth taught biology and environmental science at Columbus Signature Academy for more than ten years and served as a science and education fellow in Congress through the Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellowship in 2018–19. 12 She graduated from Columbus North High School in 1987, earned a B.A. in biology and Spanish from the University of Evansville in 1992, completed a Cornell executive women in leadership certificate in 2023, and received a Ph.D. in educational policy studies from Ball State University in 2025. 14
Wirth has appeared on Indiana ballots in prior election cycles, including a 2020 state Senate race and earlier congressional races, though available sources do not indicate she has held elected office. 5 She won the Democratic primary for Indiana's 6th District and is listed as the Democratic nominee on the Indiana Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. 17
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 6, Indiana
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Small-business owner and Democratic nominee for U.S. Representative, Indiana's 6th Congressional District
- Website
- wirth4congress.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 5newsWirth tells UIndy's The Reflector healthcare is 'by far and away the number one struggle' in the district
In an interview with the University of Indianapolis student newspaper The Reflector, Wirth discussed district priorities including healthcare, Social Security, Medicare, wages, housing, and environmental protection. She expressed interest in serving on the Science, Space and Technology; education; or transportation committees.
Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District – Cynthia (Cinde) Wirth · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2newsWirth addresses healthcare, affordability and the Constitution at Johnson County forum
Coverage of the Johnson County voter forum reported that Wirth spoke about healthcare, affordability, and upholding the Constitution. A video of the forum was noted as available. The event was not described as a head-to-head debate with Shreve.
‘No shallow answers': Candidates talk taxes, schools and quality of life at voter forum · Oct 2, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1debateWirth appears at Johnson County voter forum
The Daily Journal listed Wirth as a participant in a Johnson County voter forum held on October 1, 2026.
Johnson County Voter Forum is tonight · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 24filingWirth confirmed on official Indiana general-election candidate list
A candidate-profile page reported Wirth was listed on the official Indiana general-election ballot as of September 24, 2026, setting up a rematch against Republican incumbent Jefferson Shreve, who won the 2024 race with 63.9%.
Cynthia (CINDE) Wirth - Candidate Alerts · Sep 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22debateWirth participates in Progressive Indiana Network virtual town hall
Wirth answered questions at a PIN virtual town hall on topics including tariffs and effects on farmers, congressional accountability and impeachment, abolishing ICE, and online harassment connected to her immigration advocacy.
PIN Virtual Town Hall w/ Cinde Wirth for IN-6 · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 15endorsementWirth listed on iVoterGuide with labor and Gun Sense Voter endorsements
A candidate profile on iVoterGuide listed Wirth as holding labor and Gun Sense Voter endorsements, though the dates those endorsements were made were not established.
Cynthia "Cinde" Wirth · Sep 15, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 5filingWirth wins four-candidate Democratic primary with 58.7% of the vote
Cinde Wirth won the Democratic primary for Indiana's 6th Congressional District, receiving 58.7% of the vote (13,656 votes). The other candidates were William Kory Amyx, Nicholas Frederick Baker, and David Lawrence Boyd.
Election 2026: Indiana's Sixth Congressional District Race · Oct 11, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Indiana AFL-CIO unionListed as District 6 endorsee on the Indiana State AFL-CIO's 'Labor 2026' page. No endorsement date stated. inaflcio.org
- Gun Sense Voter organizationListed among endorsements on iVoterGuide profile for Wirth's 2026 race. No date provided. ivoterguide.com
- United Auto Workers (UAW) unionListed among endorsements on iVoterGuide profile for Wirth's 2026 race. No date provided. ivoterguide.com
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $37K
- Spent
- $30K
- Cash on hand
- $7,151
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6IN06230(opens in a new tab)
Sources 11
- [1] Election 2026: Indiana's Sixth Congressional District Race(opens in a new tab) Oct 11, 2026
- [2] Labor 2026 | Indiana State AFL-CIO(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [3] Indiana’s Sixth Congressional District – Cynthia (Cinde) Wirth(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [4] ‘No shallow answers': Candidates talk taxes, schools and quality of life at voter forum(opens in a new tab) Oct 2, 2026
- [5] Johnson County Voter Forum is tonight(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [6] Cynthia (CINDE) Wirth - Candidate Alerts(opens in a new tab) Sep 24, 2026
- [7] 2026 Voter Guide: Indiana's 6th Congressional District - WFYI(opens in a new tab) Sep 23, 2026
- [8] PIN Virtual Town Hall w/ Cinde Wirth for IN-6(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [9] Cynthia "Cinde" Wirth(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [10] 4 seek Democratic nomination for Indiana's 6th District(opens in a new tab) Apr 2, 2026
- [11] Cynthia "Cinde" Wirth | BallotReady(opens in a new tab) Nov 8, 2022