Pluribus AI 2026 Election

2026 Midterms · U.S. House · Indiana Safe

Indiana — 4th District

Portrait of Drew Cox

Democratic

Drew Cox

Portrait of Jim Baird

Republican

Jim Baird

Incumbent

The general election for Indiana's 4th Congressional District features seven-year incumbent Republican Jim Baird facing Democratic challenger Drew Cox. The race in this heavily Republican district hinges on Baird's legislative record and alignment with Donald Trump's agenda versus Cox's progressive platform advocating for single-payer healthcare, campaign finance reform, and pro-worker economic policies. Major political handicappers—including The Cook Political Report, Inside Elections, Sabato's Crystal Ball, and DDHQ/The Hill—rate the general election as Solid or Safe Republican.

01

Economy, Taxation, and Cost of Living

high salience

Cox advocates raising taxes on the ultra-wealthy and capping credit card interest rates, whereas Baird voted for Republican budget reconciliation and debt-limit legislation that capped non-defense spending and altered tax policy.

Drew Cox

Supports progressive taxation and anti-predatory lending

Cox attributes the cost-of-living crisis to congressional inaction regarding tariffs, foreign conflict, and unregulated data centers. He advocates for capping credit card interest rates at 10% over five years, regulating buy-now-pay-later loans, and enacting the For the 99.5 Percent Act to raise taxes on corporations and high earners.

  • Support the Credit Card Interest Rate Cap Act of 2025 to limit credit card interest rates to 10%
  • Pass the For the 99.5 Percent Act to implement progressive tax brackets for the top 0.05% and large estates
  • Enact federal regulations to prevent predatory buy-now-pay-later lending traps

“We demand an affordable economy. Congress has neglected its duties with regard to tariffs, the war in Iran, and by allowing data centers to be unregulated. The inaction of congress on several fronts has led to an affordability crisis for everyday Americans.”

Jim Baird

Supports conservative fiscal and tax policies

Baird aligns with House Republican economic legislation, voting for major fiscal packages such as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act reconciliation bill and the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. He also supported the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 while voting against the Social Security Fairness Act of 2023.

  • Voted for H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025) providing federal funding, raising the debt limit, and adjusting tax policy
  • Voted for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 to cap non-defense federal spending
  • Voted for the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 to raise the debt limit while repealing green energy tax credits

“I will continue working with President Trump... to deliver results for Hoosiers, growing our economy, standing up for American agriculture, strengthening our military, securing our border, and putting America First.”

02

Immigration and Border Security

medium salience

Cox supports abolishing ICE and increasing law enforcement oversight, while Baird supports strict border enforcement, mandatory detention for non-citizens arrested for theft, and expanded deportation criteria.

Drew Cox

Supports abolishing ICE and unmasking agents

Cox calls for strict oversight of federal law enforcement agencies and demands that ICE agents produce judicial warrants and remove face masks. He advocates for abolishing ICE entirely to create a fair, equitable, and efficient immigration system.

  • Abolish ICE and establish an equitable immigration system
  • Require federal immigration agents to produce judicial warrants and unmask
  • Increase congressional oversight over federal border enforcement practices

“We demand that Immigrations and Custom Enforcement be held to the same standard as every other law enforcement agency in this country.”

Jim Baird

Supports strict border security and enforcement

Baird consistently votes for enhanced border security measures and mandatory detention laws. He supported the Secure the Border Act of 2023, the Laken Riley Act, and legislation establishing DUI convictions as grounds for non-citizen deportation.

  • Voted for the Secure the Border Act of 2023 (H.R. 2) to limit asylum eligibility and mandate E-Verify
  • Voted for the Laken Riley Act (S. 5) requiring DHS detention of non-citizens arrested for theft or burglary
  • Voted for H.R. 875 making driving while impaired grounds for deportation or inadmissibility

“I will continue working with President Trump... to deliver results for Hoosiers, growing our economy, standing up for American agriculture, strengthening our military, securing our border, and putting America First.”

03

Government Reform, Campaign Finance, and Voting Rights

medium salience

Cox advocates for banning corporate PACs and uncapping the House of Representatives, whereas Baird focuses on election security by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Drew Cox

Supports banning corporate PACs and uncapping House

Cox focuses on removing big money from politics by overturning Citizens United, banning corporate PACs, and prohibiting congressional stock trading. He also proposes expanding the U.S. House of Representatives beyond 435 seats to improve democratic accountability and representative equity.

  • Pass the Restore Trust in Congress Act (H.R. 5106) to ban congressional stock trading
  • Pass the Ban Corporate PACs Act (H.R. 4799) and implement matching public campaign financing
  • Uncap the House of Representatives to reduce district sizes and increase legislative capacity

“I'm particularly interested in getting big money out of politics. Citizens United has caused significant damage to our society.”

Jim Baird

Supports proof-of-citizenship voter requirements

Baird supports Republican election administration and transparency measures. He voted for the SAVE Act to require documentary proof of citizenship when registering for federal elections and voted to release unclassified DOJ records regarding Jeffrey Epstein.

  • Voted for the SAVE Act (H.R. 22) requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections
  • Voted for the Epstein Files Transparency Act (H.R. 4405) to publish DOJ investigative records
  • Voted for H.Res. 918 authorizing an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden
04

Foreign Policy, Defense, and Veterans Affairs

medium salience

Cox advocates ending military aid to Israel and cutting defense spending, while Baird campaigns on strengthening the U.S. military and leveraging his background as a decorated combat veteran.

Drew Cox

Opposes military aid to Israel and supports veterans

Cox strongly opposes U.S. military aid to Israel, advocating for an immediate end to foreign military transfers and refusing AIPAC funds. As a Marine veteran, he calls for redirecting military spending toward VA mental healthcare, eliminating veteran homelessness, and halting foreign interventions.

  • Cease all military aid and weapon transfers to Israel and refuse AIPAC campaign contributions
  • Redirect defense spending toward infrastructure, debt reduction, and domestic social services
  • Fully fund VA mental health programs and eliminate veteran homelessness

“Drew Cox, on the other hand, takes a very clear and principled stand on this matter: not a single cent, or a single weapon, whether offensive or “defensive”, should be sent from the United States to Israel.”

“As a Marine veteran, Drew Cox will vote against authorizing any more needless, illegal wars and will fight to reign in the unilateral military action of the executive branch.”

Jim Baird

Supports strong military and veteran representation

Baird emphasizes his background as a Purple Heart Vietnam veteran and campaigns on strengthening the U.S. military. He serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, though he voted Nay on the final conference report for the FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act.

  • Campaigns on strengthening the U.S. military and representing veterans in Congress
  • Serves on the House Committee on Foreign Affairs
  • Voted Nay on the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (H.R. 2670)

“As a two-time Purple Heart recipient and Vietnam veteran, I know how to stay focused under fire. I will not be distracted by political games.”

05

Energy, Environment, and Technology

medium salience

Cox advocates for a moratorium on AI data centers and a Green New Deal, whereas Baird voted to expand fossil fuel production and roll back environmental permitting restrictions.

Drew Cox

Supports moratorium on AI data centers and Green New Deal

Cox proposes a federal moratorium on AI data centers due to their high electricity and water consumption, requiring that operational data centers rely on clean energy. He also advocates for a Green New Deal to build public transit infrastructure and address climate change.

  • Implement a federal moratorium on AI data centers and require green energy power sources
  • Support the Green New Deal to modernize transit and transition to clean energy
  • Establish 21st-century public work programs modeled after the WPA and Civilian Conservation Corps

“Drew Cox will fight to implement a federal moratorium on AI data centers, as well as regulation requiring that all data centers use green energy to power their activities.”

Jim Baird

Supports domestic energy production and opposes ESG rules

Baird supports increasing domestic production of oil, natural gas, and coal while streamlining environmental permitting. He voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act and supported nullifying federal rules permitting ESG considerations in retirement plan investments.

  • Voted for the Lower Energy Costs Act (H.R. 1) to expand oil, gas, and coal production
  • Voted for H.J.Res. 30 to overturn Department of Labor rules allowing ESG factors in ERISA retirement plans
  • Serves on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology
06

Social Issues, Civil Liberties, and Sports Governance

low salience

Cox advocates for expanding LGBTQ+ protections, federal abortion rights, and cannabis legalization, whereas Baird voted for federal legislation limiting female sports participation to biological females.

Drew Cox

Supports bodily autonomy, LGBTQ+ rights, and cannabis legalization

Cox advocates protecting personal freedoms by codifying Roe v. Wade, passing the Equality Act, and removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act. He also supports repealing the Patriot Act and passing the No Political Enemies Act to safeguard free speech.

  • Codify Roe v. Wade and pass the Equality Act to protect civil rights
  • Remove cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act
  • Repeal the Patriot Act and pass the No Political Enemies Act to protect political speech

Jim Baird

Supports restricting female sports to biological females

Baird supports conservative social policies, voting for federal legislation restricting athletic program participation based on biological sex at birth. He also supported resolutions denouncing socialism and terminating COVID-19 traveler vaccine requirements.

  • Voted for the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act of 2025 (H.R. 28)
  • Voted for H.Con.Res. 9 denouncing the horrors of socialism
  • Voted for H.R. 185 ending COVID-19 vaccine entry requirements for foreign travelers
07

Healthcare

medium salience

Drew Cox

Supports single-payer Medicare for All

Cox contends that private, for-profit healthcare leads to insurance claim denials, high debt, and uninsured citizens. He advocates passing the Medicare for All Act to guarantee healthcare as a human right, including mental and reproductive care, while placing stringent caps on prescription drug prices.

  • Pass the Medicare for All Act to establish a universal single-payer healthcare system
  • Guarantee mental health and reproductive healthcare coverage
  • Enact price regulations on pharmaceutical companies for essential medications

“We need a single payer healthcare system that puts people over profits.”

Jim Baird No documented position in our sources
08

Labor and Workers' Rights

medium salience

Drew Cox

Supports $15 minimum wage and union protections

Cox proposes a pro-worker platform centered on raising wages and protecting labor unions. He advocates raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour indexed to inflation, ending state right-to-work laws through the Workplace Democracy Act, and mandating paid family leave and paid time off.

  • Pass the Raise the Wage Act to increase the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour matched to inflation
  • Pass the Workplace Democracy Act to protect union organizing and eliminate right-to-work laws
  • Pass the Family Act for 12 weeks of paid family leave and the Protected Time Off Act

“Drew Cox will respond to this issue with an unapologetic pro worker agenda.”

Jim Baird No documented position in our sources