The race for US Representative for Indiana’s Fifth District is more competitive than in past years – with three candidates challenging incumbent Republican Victoria Spartz.  They are Democrat Deborah Pickett, Libertarian Lauri Shillings, and Independent Robby Slaughter.

While sitting down for interviews with WFYI recently, most were asked about women’s reproductive rights, among other issues like housing, the economy, and gun violence.  Here are their answers, along with biographical details and links to full interviews.

Indiana has a near-total abortion ban.  A 2023 Ball State University “Hoosier Survey” shows 59 percent of Hoosiers believe abortion should be legal in most or all cases.

Deborah Pickett

Party: Democrat
Campaign Site: https://pickettforcongress.com
Education: Skidmore College
Experience:
⦁ Military
‣ Intelligence analyst, 21st Support Command in Indianapolis
‣ Behavioral science specialist, Ft. Benjamin Harrison
⦁ Center for Integrative Development in New York

On Reproductive Rights: Pickett says one of her priorities would be to pass a federal law to give everyone the right to an abortion.

“People are also concerned about, ‘well, what other rights are now going to be taken away from me?’ If Roe v. Wade was overturned and the state of Indiana has imposed some of the most severe restrictions on a woman’s right regards regarding reproductive choices and decisions, then what other violations on our personal rights are going to occur?”

Listen: Pickett full interview and transcript from WFYI

Lauri Shillings

Party: Libertarian
Campaign Site: https://www.lauriforliberty.com
Education: University of Indianapolis, B.S. Community & Nonprofit Leadership; Ivy Tech Community College, AAS Visual Communications (2012); Montgomery County Leadership Academy, Certificate in Servant Leadership for Community Professionals
Experience:
⦁ Creative Director, University of Indianapolis (2023 – Present)
⦁ Lead Designer for Chase Oliver for President (2023 – Present)
⦁ CEO at Pirate Smile Media, LLC

On Reproductive Rights: Shillings believes it isn’t her business what women do and “it shouldn’t be the government’s business either.”

“Women’s health care is health care. It shouldn’t matter what gender you are. It shouldn’t matter what gender you claim to be. You are a human being, and you deserve health care. My personal belief on women’s reproductive rights is – that is between the woman, their physician and their faith. Nobody else needs to be involved. Politicians are not physicians.”

Listen: Shillings full interview and transcript from WFYI

Robby Slaughter

Party: Independent
Age: 45
Campaign Site: https://robbyslaughter.com
Education: The University of Texas, Bachelors in Mathematics (2003)
Experience:
⦁ Owner of AccelaWork (2001 – 2021)
⦁ Host and Producer of Simply Inspiration (2020 – 2021)
⦁ Member of the Speakers Bureau for Rainmakers (2008 – 2018)

On Reproductive Rights: Slaughter says it’s an intensely personal issue, but most people agree on the goal of having fewer abortions.

“I think that if we can put our effort into what we know works, which is providing the kinds of services, whether it’s prenatal care and health care for folks who do get pregnant, whether it’s making sure that adoption services are widely available and effectively free of charge, and that women’s health is protected where it makes sense as a private conversation between a woman and her doctor. Those things are all essential.”

Listen: Slaughter full interview and transcript from WFYI

Victoria Spartz

Incumbent
Party: Republican
Age: 45
Campaign Site: https://www.spartzforcongress.com
Education: Kyiv National University of Economics, B.S. International Economics; Kyiv National University of Economics, MBA; IU Kelley School of Business, Master of Professional Accountancy
Experience:
⦁ U.S. House of Representatives (2020 – Present)
‣ House Judiciary Committee
‣ Regional Policy Chair, Republican Policy Committee
• CFO, Indiana Attorney General’s Office

On Reproductive Rights: The WFYI interviews did not ask incumbent Republican Spartz about abortion directly, unlike other candidates.  But when asked at an Anderson forum last month, she said she’s a strong supporter of states choosing their abortion policies.

“This issue was brought back to the states, to the people, and we’ll have to live with these ideas that we’ll have some conservative states and some liberal states.  And we don’t have the borders from other states. People always can move to other states.”

Listen: Spartz full interview and transcript from WFYI

Thomas Ouellette contributed to this report and Stephanie Wiechmann served as digital editor.

Both WFYI and IPR are a part of the Indiana Public Broadcasting (IPBS) collaborative journalism project.