J.D.
Ford
Indiana State Senator J.D. Ford is the 2026 Democratic candidate challenging Rep. Victoria Spartz in Indiana's 5th Congressional District.
- sources
- 19
- positions
- 12
- endorsements
- 26
Background
J.D. Ford is an Indiana state senator representing District 29, first elected in 2018. He has served in Senate Democratic caucus leadership roles including caucus whip and caucus chair. Before entering elected office, Ford spent much of his career in higher education and held executive-level roles at nonprofits in Central Indiana. 11011
Ford earned a Bachelor of Science in political science and criminal justice from the University of Akron and a Master of Science in education with an emphasis on human services from Purdue University. He resides in Carmel, Indiana. 61011
In December 2025, Ford announced his campaign for Indiana's 5th Congressional District seat, challenging Republican incumbent Representative Victoria Spartz in the November 2026 general election. He won the Democratic primary to become the party's nominee. 616
Ford has received endorsements including from the American Federation of Government Employees, the largest federal employee union. 12
At a glance
- Party
- Democratic
- Running for
- U.S. House · District 5, Indiana
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Indiana State Senator, District 29
- Website
- electjdford.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 12newsFord emphasizes cost of living, immigration pathway, and AI guardrails in interview
In an October 12 interview, Ford cited rising gas, grocery and utility costs, supported a pathway to citizenship for taxpaying undocumented residents and Dreamers, and called for federal guardrails on AI development.
‘All INdiana Politics': Cost of living and AI regulation dominate Indiana's most competitive House race · Oct 12, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9newsFord calls for congressional limits on Iran war spending and federal AI regulation
In an interview, Ford said Congress should use its spending authority to limit the war in Iran and pass AI-regulation legislation, highlighting key policy priorities for his campaign.
5th District race: Spartz and Ford agree on need for AI regulation · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 9newsCook Political Report shifts IN-5 rating from 'Solid Republican' to 'Likely Republican'
Cook Political Report moved the race toward Democrats, citing private polling showing a closer-than-expected contest and Spartz running attack ads. Ford said, 'Nonpartisan experts are seeing what we've known all along, this race is wide open.'
Report: Indiana's 5th District may no longer be 'safe' for Spartz · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsNational clean-energy super PAC announces $2M anti-Spartz ad campaign
A national clean-energy super PAC announced an initial $1 million in advertising against Spartz, with plans for a total $2 million campaign including TV, mail and digital ads. The spending targets Spartz but is not a direct endorsement of Ford by his campaign.
National super PAC to spend $2M on anti-Spartz ad blitz · Oct 6, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 6newsEarly voting begins in Indiana general election
Early voting opened on October 6 ahead of the November 3 general election in which Ford faces Spartz.
Voter guide: What to know about Indiana's candidates for U.S. Congress · Oct 5, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1endorsementEquality PAC endorses J.D. Ford in Indiana's 5th District congressional race
Equality PAC, an organization supporting LGBTQ candidates, officially endorsed Ford in his race against Spartz.
Equality PAC endorses J.D. Ford in 5th District congressional race · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 1newsFord campaign launches six-figure ad buy attacking Spartz over alleged self-dealing
Ford's campaign announced a six-figure broadcast, cable and streaming ad buy alleging Spartz engaged in self-dealing. The claims are the campaign's allegations.
J.D. Ford Exposes Victoria Spartz's Corruption and Votes Against ... · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21debateFord accepts Spartz debate challenge, fires back over stock-trading claims
Ford accepted Spartz's debate challenge but declined to withdraw his campaign's financial claims against her. As of October 12, no debate date had been announced.
Ford accepts debate challenge, fires back at Spartz over stock trades · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 21newsWFYI publishes 2026 voter guide for Indiana's 5th Congressional District
WFYI's voter guide reported Ford had raised about $582,086 through June 30 per FEC data, and outlined his platform including health care, cost of living, and government accountability.
2026 Voter Guide: Indiana's 5th Congressional District · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jul 20pollCampaign-commissioned poll shows Spartz 48%, Ford 46% in 5th District
An Impact Research poll of 400 people, commissioned by Ford's campaign, showed Spartz leading Ford by two points. No comparable independent public poll was available in recent reporting.
1-minute voter guide: Indiana's 5th Congressional District · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - May 5filingJ.D. Ford wins Democratic primary for Indiana's 5th Congressional District
Ford won a competitive Democratic primary on May 5 and became the party's nominee to challenge Republican incumbent Victoria Spartz in the general election on Nov. 3.
2026 Voter Guide: Indiana's 5th Congressional District · Sep 21, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Population Connection Action Fund organizationLists Ford among its 2026 endorsed candidates; no specific date stated. populationconnectionaction.org
- Indiana NORML organizationListed on iVoterGuide profile; date not stated, reported by candidate. ivoterguide.com
- Committee to Protect Health Care organizationListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Sheila Kennedy otherColumnist; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Dr. Anita Joshi officialCarmel city councilor; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- United Auto Workers unionListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters unionListed on iVoterGuide profile; date not stated, reported by candidate. ivoterguide.com
- Joe Donnelly officialFormer U.S. senator and ambassador; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- AFL-CIO Indiana unionListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Better Indiana organizationListed on iVoterGuide profile; date not stated, reported by candidate. ivoterguide.com
- Melanie Wright officialFormer Indiana state representative; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- LIUNA Indiana Laborers District Council unionListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Gun Sense Voter organizationListed on iVoterGuide profile; date not stated, reported by candidate. ivoterguide.com
- Sue Errington officialIndiana state representative; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- AFT Indiana unionListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Run for Something organizationListed on iVoterGuide profile; date not stated, reported by candidate. ivoterguide.com
- Martin O'Malley officialFormer commissioner of the Social Security Administration; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- UFCW Local 700 unionListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Indy Chamber organizationListed on iVoterGuide profile; date not stated, reported by candidate. ivoterguide.com
- Indiana Stonewall Democrats organizationListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Steve Daily officialFormer mayor of Kokomo; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Shelli Yoder officialIdentified as Senate minority leader on campaign page; listed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- SMART-Transportation Division unionListed on campaign endorsements page, date not stated. electjdford.com
- Equality PAC organizationLGBT Equality PAC announced endorsement on September 30, 2026. larryinfishers.com · Sep 30, 2026
- American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) unionLargest federal employee union; announced endorsement on September 14, 2026. afge.org · Sep 14, 2026
- Anderson Firefighters PAC organizationReported as endorsing Ford on April 16, 2026; campaign page also lists 'Anderson Firefighters.' en.wikipedia.org · Apr 16, 2026
Campaign finance
Totals filed with the Federal Election Commission for the 2026 election cycle.
- Raised
- $582K
- Spent
- $267K
- Cash on hand
- $315K
As of Jun 30, 2026. Filings are periodic, so recent money may not be included yet. ↳ FEC record H6IN05307(opens in a new tab)
Sources 19
- [1] ‘All INdiana Politics': Cost of living and AI regulation dominate Indiana's most competitive House race(opens in a new tab) Oct 12, 2026
- [2] 1-minute voter guide: Indiana's 5th Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [3] 5th District race: Spartz and Ford agree on need for AI regulation(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [4] J.D. Ford(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [5] Report: Indiana's 5th District may no longer be 'safe' for Spartz(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [6] National super PAC to spend $2M on anti-Spartz ad blitz(opens in a new tab) Oct 6, 2026
- [7] Platform | Elect J.D Ford to Congress | Indiana's 5th District(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [8] Voter guide: What to know about Indiana's candidates for U.S. Congress(opens in a new tab) Oct 5, 2026
- [9] Equality PAC endorses J.D. Ford in 5th District congressional race(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [10] J.D. Ford Exposes Victoria Spartz's Corruption and Votes Against ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [11] 2026 Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [12] JD Ford Endorsement by Equality PAC Explained - LarryInFishers(opens in a new tab) Sep 30, 2026
- [13] 2026 Voter Guide: Indiana's 5th Congressional District(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [14] Ford accepts debate challenge, fires back at Spartz over stock trades(opens in a new tab) Sep 21, 2026
- [15] Candidates for 5th Congressional District discuss healthcare, immigration ahead of November election(opens in a new tab) Sep 15, 2026
- [16] Largest Federal Employee Union Endorses Indiana’s J.D. Ford for Election to Congress(opens in a new tab) Sep 14, 2026
- [17] Endorsements(opens in a new tab) Sep 8, 2026
- [18] 2026 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana - Wikipedia(opens in a new tab) Mar 28, 2025
- [19] Senator J.D. Ford | Indiana Senate District 29(opens in a new tab) Oct 22, 2021