What to watch for in Indiana tonight: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskWhat to watch for in Indiana tonight: From the Politics DeskPlus, Iowa emerges as a midterm battleground. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00A vote center during a primary election on Tuesday in West Lafayette, Ind. Cara Penquite / APShareAdd NBC News to GoogleMay 5, 2026, 4:00 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.Welcome to another primary day! Steve Kornacki lays out everything you need to know before polls close in Indiana this evening, where the focus is more local than usual. Plus, Henry J. Gomez explores how Iowa, even as it’s trended right in recent cycles, has emerged as a key midterm battleground.Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerWhat to watch for in Indiana tonightAnalysis by Steve KornackiA group of Indiana Republican lawmakers who have been targeted for defeat by President Donald Trump will learn their fates tonight. It’s the first of several high-profile tests of Trump’s intraparty clout on this month’s calendar. At issue in Indiana is Trump’s failed effort to compel GOP state senators to back a mid-decade congressional redistricting plan that could have netted the party two new seats. Seven of the Republican state senators who helped scuttle the plan are facing well-funded challenges from Trump-backed opponents.1st DistrictIncumbent: Dan DernulcTrump-backed challenger: Trevor De VriesThis is a swing district in the Chicago suburbs of northwest Indiana. Dernulc likely calculated that supporting an aggressive partisan gerrymander would stir a backlash in a district that Trump only carried by single digits in 2024.11th DistrictIncumbent: Linda RogersTrump-backed challenger: Brian Schmutzler The dist...