House - IN 5th - Christina Hale

Democrat running for open seat in North Indianapolis and its northern and eastern suburbs

Christina Hale got into the race to represent Indiana’s 5th congressional district in 2019 after incumbent Republican Susan Brooks announced she would not seek a 5th term. The district, 75% urban/suburban and 25% rural, is the wealthiest in Indiana as measured by median income, and went for Trump by 12%. If elected, Christina would become the first Latino/a elected to Congress in Indiana.

A lifelong Hoosier, Christina earned her degree at Purdue while raising her son Owen as a single parent. She made sure that he had health insurance, even if she couldn’t afford it for herself. Those were hard times, but that period led Christina to a career in service to others. She worked for Kiwanis International, a global service club focused on helping children in local communities. She was the organization’s Executive Director of Youth Programs before leaving to run for the Indiana House of Representatives in 2012.

As a state legislator, Christina had the reputation for getting good things done. Despite being in a super-minority in the heavily Republican legislature, she passed more than 60 bills. She was known as an attentive listener and problem solver, someone who worked toward bipartisan solutions. In 2016, Christina gained statewide name recognition as the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor.

Her opponent is far-right Republican Victoria Spartz, who describes herself as a “staunch conservative who believes that limited government is always better.” She was born in Ukraine and grew up there, moving to the U.S. after she met her husband, an Indiana native. She has been a state senator since 2017. She was the founder of the Hamilton County Tea Party; helped Trump’s campaign in 2016; and strongly supports his policies on building the wall, repealing regulations, and cutting taxes. She has proudly stated that she “fought Obamacare.” The Indianapolis Star reported earlier this year: “Lawmaker [Spartz] wants to deregulate wetlands. Her family once was cited for bulldozing them.” When she announced her run for this seat, Spartz said, “We must reverse our country from the socialistic course we are on … Our Constitutional Republic is the only dream of freedom existing in the entire world, and we cannot let it vanish!” Her candidacy has been endorsed by the NRA, Indiana Right to Life, and the Club for Growth, the anti-tax organization whose PAC has given her campaign more than $461,000. She has also invested $750,000 of her own money.

Christina has been endorsed by the League of Conservation Voters, the Latino Victory Fund, EMILY’s List, Planned Parenthood, and Naral Pro Choice America. Her race in a district that hasn’t elected a Democratic representative since 1990 will be challenging, but it is winnable.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairwoman Cheri Bustos said: “Christina Hale knows the difficult decision so many Hoosier families face between affording their health care, investing in their education, and paying the bills … This suburban, highly-educated district is primed for Democrats to flip in November, and I look forward to seeing Christina Hale serve Hoosiers in Congress come 2021.”

With a proven record of legislative accomplishments and no incumbent in the race, Christina can win in a red district. But we can’t wait; we have to help her now. As the home page of her campaign website says: “For a Better Indiana, Hale Yes. Join Christina.”