Ford presses affordability, health care in bid to unseat Spartz in Indiana’s 5th District
State Sen. JD Ford, the Democratic nominee for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, is centering his fall campaign on affordability, health care, and a sharp contrast with Republican . . .
State Sen. JD Ford, the Democratic nominee for Indiana’s5th Congressional District, is centering his fall campaign on affordability, health care, and a sharp contrast with Republican incumbentVictoria Spartz, arguing that everyday Hoosiers are being “squeezed” while Congress favors corporations and the wealthy. In an interview this week, Ford said voters across the district — which includes urban, suburban, and rural areas — are most concerned about the rising cost of living. He said affordability issues are “top of mind,” citing gas prices, utility costs, and grocery bills. Although the state has temporarily suspended the gas tax, he said residents are “still feeling the pain at the pump” and at the checkout line. Ford criticized what he described as inaction by the current officeholder on those issues, pointing instead to his own record in the Indiana Senate. Ford noted his vote to end the7% sales tax on utility billsand his support forHouse Bill 1002, which he called “a step in the right direction” toward providing cost relief for Hoosiers, though not a complete solution. He also pointed to abipartisan, bicameral housing billthat he said could have been a national success story, but whose planned signing ceremony was canceled by the president. He warned aboutinternational investors buying up homesand driving up prices for local buyers, arguing that Congress needs to monitor and address the problem. On the agricultural front, Ford saidtariff policiesassociated with former President Donald Trump have left farmers “squeezed from both ends. ” According to Ford, farmers struggle to sell their products because of “chaotic” tariffs, while imported farm equipment is also subject to tariffs, raising their costs. He said he wants to go to Congress to “fight on their behalf” and revisit those policies, which he said Spartz has supported. Ford also stressedhealth careas a central campaign issue. He called the current system “completely broken” and argued for restoring and protectingMedicaid fundingwhile opposing what he described as reckless budget cuts that threaten access to emergency and preventive care. He warned that a bill backed by Spartz — which he dubbed the “one big beautiful bill” — would remove roughly650,000 Hoosiersfrom health coverage and place additional strain onrural hospitals. In the state legislature, Ford said he helpedcap the price of insulin and EpiPensand worked to reduce prescription drug costs in response to concerns from his constituents. He also pledged to protectreproductive freedom, saying health care decisions should remain between patients and their medical providers, not the government. Addressing concerns about the national debt, Ford rejected criticism of Democratic spending priorities from Spartz and her allies. He argued that the tax and spending package she supported increased the deficit while delivering “fistfuls of cash” to what he called “the billionaire class,” even as programs that ordinary people rely on face cuts. Ford, who emerged from aseven-way Democratic primary, said his campaign aims to unite different factions within the party while appealing to moderates and independents. He is specifically targeting so-calledLugar–Daniels Republicanswho he believes feel politically homeless in the Trump-era GOP. Ford said he is “staying right in the middle,” promising practical, pragmatic decision-making based on what is best for the 5th District rather than for any party faction. Ford reported raisingmore than $360,000in the second quarter, a total he said reflects “momentum and strength” in the race. He highlighted small-dollar, grassroots donors giving $15 or $25 as evidence of enthusiasm for change. While lamenting the influence of money in politics, Ford said he intends to continue aggressive fundraising to compete with Spartz, who has the ability to self-fund, and vowed to “leave no stone unturned” in reaching voters across the district.