Republicans' Candidate for Indiana House Seat Died in March

Republicans in Indiana appear to have nominated a candidate who died in March for a congressional race.

On May 7, Indiana held its primary elections, and Hoosier State voters made their picks in key legislative races and the presidential election. Republican voters in Indiana's 7th Congressional District, a Democratic-leaning seat based around Indianapolis, nominated a candidate named Jennifer Pace to challenge Democratic incumbent André Carson in November.

However, Pace died in March after having a heart attack, The Indianapolis Star reported. Since Pace died after the deadline to change ballots, she remained a choice for Republicans in Tuesday's primary.

The New York Times reported that Pace held a narrow lead over her primary challengers. While the Times has not called the race formally, the Star said Pace "won the race" as all the votes had been counted.

Pace received 31.2 percent of the vote, while retired Army Lieutenant Catherine Ping, who finished in second place, received 29.9 percent of the vote. It remains unknown whom Republicans will nominate for the seat.

Ping previously ran for the seat in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2016, Ballotpedia showed. Two other candidates also ran for the congressional seat, with Philip Davis receiving 25.7 percent of the vote and Gabe Whitley receiving 13.1 percent.

When asked for confirmation of Pace's death, Griffin Reid, the press secretary of the Indiana Republican Party, told Newsweek Wednesday that it was the party's "understanding that that is accurate."

"According to IC 3-13-1-4 and 3-13-1-8 a caucus of Precinct Committeemen in the 7th District will be called by the State Chair to fill the candidate vacancy," Reid said.

Indiana Code 3-13-1-4 says a "candidate vacancy for United States Representative shall be filled by a caucus comprised by the precinct committeemen of the political party whose precincts are within the congressional district."

In a candidate survey on Ballotpedia, Pace described increasing financial freedom, parental rights and lowering inflation as the three key messages of her campaign.

The seat is unlikely to become competitive in November, as the district comprises Democratic-leaning Indianapolis. In 2022, Carson won his reelection with 67 percent of the vote. The seat has not been viewed as competitive in a decade, with 2014 being the last time Carson won by less than 20 points. He received 55 percent of the vote.

In 2020, the district backed President Joe Biden by 42 points, even though he lost the state by 16 points.

This is not the first time voters have selected a deceased candidate for office. In 2018, Nevada voters backed Dennis Hof, a brothel owner and reality TV star, for a seat in the state legislature weeks after his death.