A recount in Indiana’s May state Senate primary has reversed the results, placing Paula Copenhaver, a Trump-backed challenger, ahead of incumbent Sen. Spencer Deery by three votes in District 23.
The Indiana Recount Commission invalidated 10 ballots—eight cast for Deery and two for Copenhaver—due to minor technical errors, including missing signatures or initials from election officials. The decision followed Copenhaver’s challenge to Deery’s original three-vote lead.
Deery announced plans to appeal, calling the recount an attempt to undermine voter intent. In a post on X, he stated the commission’s ruling set a precedent for future election disputes, arguing that valid votes should not be discarded over clerical errors. Deery emphasized that no ballots were challenged due to uncertainty over voter intent, only technicalities.
The recount commission cited Indiana law, which requires absentee ballots to include the county clerk’s signature and initials from both a Republican and Democratic election judge. The board rejected the ballots after determining they failed to meet these requirements.
Copenhaver, who serves as an aide to Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, has not publicly commented on the outcome. If her victory withstands appeal, she would enter the general election as the favored Republican candidate in the heavily GOP-leaning District 23. Her opponents in November include Democrat David Sanders and independent Joshua Brant.
The dispute stems from Deery’s opposition to a redistricting plan backed by former President Donald Trump, which he and six other Republican senators voted against last year. Five of those senators lost their primaries to Trump-supported challengers, while Deery initially survived by a narrow margin.
The recount process has drawn criticism from both sides. Supporters of Deery argue the invalidated ballots were valid under voter intent standards, while Copenhaver’s backers contend the technical errors justified the commission’s decision. The legal battle is expected to continue as Deery seeks to restore his original vote totals through appellate courts.