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Ukrainian-born US lawmaker Victoria Spartz loses congressional seat to Democrat
Democrat J.D. Ford defeated Republican Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District on 3 November, ending her six years in the US House. Ford’s win also makes him Indiana’s first openly gay member of Congress.
Born in Ukraine’s Chernihiv Oblast, Spartz moved to the US in 2000 and became the first Ukrainian-born member of Congress in 2020. She initially backed Ukraine after Russia’s 2022 invasion, but later opposed a roughly $61 billion US aid package, called for Ukraine to cede territory and urged President Volodymyr Zelensky to resign.
In short
- J.D. Ford defeated Victoria Spartz in Indiana’s 5th District.
- Ford will be Indiana’s first openly gay member of Congress.
- Spartz’s positions on Ukraine aid and the war drew criticism.
Explained simply
The US House of Representatives is one of two chambers of Congress, the federal legislature. Its members are elected from districts, and Indiana’s 5th District is one of the seats representing the state.
Victoria Spartz was elected to the House in 2020, becoming its first Ukrainian-born member. Her views on US support for Ukraine shifted after Russia’s 2022 invasion, including opposition to a major aid package and calls for Ukraine to give up territory.
The result also marks a milestone in Indiana’s representation: J.D. Ford will be the state’s first openly gay member of Congress. The seat change brings a new representative for the district and ends Spartz’s time in the House.