Jefferson Shreve, an Indianapolis businessman and former city-county councillor, won IN-06 in 2024 with 63.9% after Greg Pence (brother of former Vice President Mike Pence) retired. Shreve had previously run for Indianapolis mayor in 2023, losing to Democrat Joe Hogsett.
The district covers east-central Indiana — Columbus (home of Cummins Engine), Richmond, and the rural counties between Indianapolis and the Ohio border. It leans heavily Republican. Five Democrats are reportedly running in the 2026 primary, but none has the profile or funding to make the general election competitive.
Shreve's wealth is notable. He is the founder of Storage Express, a self-storage company, and largely self-funded his 2024 campaign. His transition from failed mayoral candidate to safe-seat congressman is a common pattern in Indiana Republican politics: lose a competitive race, then find a safer one.
