Jeannine Lee Lake wins Democratic nomination in 5th Congressional District

MUNCIE, Ind. — For the third time in as many elections, Muncie Democrat Jeannine Lee Lake on Tuesday won her party's nomination for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

In 2018 and 2020, Lake was the Democratic nominee who challenged Republican U.S. Rep. Greg Pence in Indiana's 6th Congressional District.

Due to redistricting, Lake's Democratic primary victory on Tuesday came in the state's 5th Congressional District — now made up of Delaware, Grant, Hamilton, Howard, Madison and Tipton counties.

The outcome of her race with fellow Democrat Matthew Hall of Fishers was never in question Tuesday night, with Lake building substantial leads in nearly every county.

More on Jeannine Lee Lake:Democrat's latest congressional race is in a new district

In Delaware County, she claimed more than 69% of the votes cast in the race.

"I thank the voters and the people who believed in me," Lake said Tuesday night.

Hall called Lake to concede the race about 9:30 p.m.

With a nomination in a new district, Lake now seeks to unseat a different Republican incumbent, Victoria Spartz from Noblesville.

"I'm going to take it to Victoria Spartz in every single town," Lake said.

The Muncie Democrat predicted the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade by the Supreme Court will prove to be a "game changer" in her race against Spartz.

Leaked draft of Supreme Court opinion:What it could mean for Indiana abortion rights

And she hopes to debate the Republican incumbent, on that issue and others.

Lake expressed disappointment that her repeated calls for primary debates with Hall had gotten no response.

Tuesday's victory was somewhat bittersweet for Lake.

On Sunday, her father, longtime Crawfordsville pastor Clarence Lee, died at the age of 84. Lake said her father had predicted her victory in Tuesday's primary.

Next week, after her father's funeral on Saturday, Lake will launch her race against Spartz.

While the district is viewed as predominantly Republican, Lake said she was prepared to surprise those who see a fall victory unlikely for a Black Democrat.

"If Barack Obama won Indiana, I can win Indiana," she said.

STAY INFORMED AND SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM: Subscribe today using the link at the top of this page.

Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com.