Baird Wins Fifth Term in Indiana 4th District

Republican incumbent Jim Baird defeated Democrat Drew Cox in the race for Indiana's 4th Congressional District.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a plain civic building facade and flagpole under open sky, evoking a congressional election in Indiana. — Republican Jim Baird won a fifth term in Indiana's 4th Congressional District, defeating Democrat Drew Cox with 54.2% of the vote. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Jim Baird won reelection to a fifth term in the U.S. House of Representatives for Indiana's 4th Congressional District, defeating Democratic nominee Drew Cox. Baird received 54.2% of the vote as 207,523 ballots had been counted as of 11:44 p.m. Tuesday.

Why it matters

The result keeps a long-serving incumbent in the seat for Indiana residents in the 4th District. Cox, who ran for public office for the first time, lost in a race where Baird's record in local and state government was central.

Baird won 54.2% of the vote with 207,523 votes counted as of 11:44 p.m. Tuesday. The figures reflect an election-night tally, and the extraction does not confirm whether all precincts had reported.

The players

Jim Baird

Jim Baird is the Republican incumbent who has represented Indiana's 4th Congressional District and previously served in the Indiana House and as a county commissioner, with a background in animal sciences and military service in Vietnam.

Drew Cox

Drew Cox is the Democratic nominee who lost to Baird in the 4th District race and ran for public office for the first time in this election.

The details

Baird, a lifelong resident of West Central Indiana, is the incumbent Republican representative for the district. Drew Cox, the Democratic nominee, ran for public office for the first time in this race.

Tuesday, 11:44 p.m. local time: vote count reported showing Baird ahead.
2019: Baird began serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.
2010 to 2018: Baird served as state representative for District 44.
2006 to 2010: Baird served as county commissioner.
1969: Baird graduated from Purdue University.

Political Context

Baird's win extends a career that moved from county commissioner in 2006 to state representative for District 44 from 2010 to 2018 and then to Congress in 2019. Opponents of incumbent Republicans in this district have historically faced an uphill path, and Cox's first-time candidacy reflected that challenge.

Baird's continued tenure means Indiana's 4th District will keep the same representative in Congress for another term. Voters in the district will see the same policy priorities carried forward from his current House seat.

The takeaway

Local election results can shift the representation of an entire region for years, so following state and district races helps voters understand who speaks for them in Washington. Checking the final certified count once it is published gives the most reliable picture of any close or contested race.