Ukraine-born House member who opposed aiding her native country defends her seat in Indiana primary
Several competitive and expensive primary races will be decided Tuesday in Indiana's election
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — A Ukrainian-born congresswoman who recently opposed sending aid to her war-torn country is defending her seat Tuesday against a fellow Republican who has outpaced her in spending and fundraising.
U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz is the first and only Ukrainian-born House member and previously backed support for the country. But ahead of her primary contest, she reversed her position and voted against sending $61 billion in aid to Ukraine. She defended the switch, arguing her loyalty is to America first and that she wanted to see policy on the U.S.-Mexico border included in the aid package, a position largely shared by her Republican challengers.
The election in the northern suburbs of Indianapolis will determine whether Spartz's maneuvers will pay off. More broadly, the race is a barometer of whether support for Ukraine is a powerful issue among GOP voters. The issue has become an increasingly divisive topic among Republicans in Washington, where many are pressing for a drawdown in aid.
If she's defeated, Spartz would be the first House Republican to lose a primary this year in a race that wasn't affected by redistricting.
