Victoria Spartz

Victoria Spartz
Official portrait, 2021
Victoria Spartz
Born	Viktoriya Kulheyko 6 10, 1978
Birthplace	Nosovka, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Nosivka, Ukraine)
Nationality	American
Occupation	Politician, businesswoman
Known for	U.S. Representative for Indiana's 5th congressional district
Education	Kyiv National Economic University (BS, MBA) Indiana University Indianapolis (MAcc)
Children	2
Website	[Official House website Official site]

Victoria Spartz (née Kulheyko; born October 6, 1978) is a Ukrainian-born American politician and businesswoman serving as the U.S. representative for Indiana's 5th congressional district since January 3, 2021. A member of the Republican Party, Spartz is the first person born in Ukraine to serve in the United States Congress. Before her election to Congress, she represented the 20th district in the Indiana Senate from 2017 to 2020. Born in the Soviet Union and raised in independent Ukraine, Spartz immigrated to the United States, built a career in finance and business, and entered politics as a state legislator before winning a competitive congressional primary and general election in 2020. She has drawn attention both for her personal background—having grown up under a socialist system—and for her independent streak within the Republican conference, notably declining to accept Republican committee assignments during one term.

Early Life

Victoria Spartz was born Viktoriya Kulheyko on October 6, 1978, in Nosovka (now Nosivka), a small city in the Chernihiv Oblast of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, then part of the Soviet Union. She grew up in Ukraine during a period of significant political and economic upheaval, witnessing the final years of Soviet rule and the emergence of an independent Ukrainian state following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. Spartz has spoken publicly about her experiences growing up under socialism, describing them as formative to her political outlook and her opposition to government overreach.

In a 2018 column published in The Times, Spartz reflected on her journey from Ukraine to the United States, expressing pride in her American citizenship and gratitude for the opportunities afforded to immigrants in the country. After completing her initial education in Ukraine, she eventually immigrated to the United States, settling in Indiana where she would pursue further education, build a career in business and finance, and raise a family.

Education

Spartz received her undergraduate education at the Kyiv National Economic University in Kyiv, Ukraine, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree. She subsequently earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same institution. After immigrating to the United States, she pursued additional graduate education at Indiana University Indianapolis (then known as IUPUI), where she earned a Master of Accountancy (MAcc) degree. Her combined training in economics, business administration, and accounting informed her subsequent career in the financial sector and her policy positions on fiscal and economic issues as a legislator.

Career

Business and Finance

Before entering politics, Spartz built a career in finance, real estate, and business in Indiana. She worked in the financial industry and also established herself as a businesswoman in the Indianapolis metropolitan area, particularly in Hamilton County. Her professional experience in accounting and finance became a central part of her political identity, as she frequently cited her business background when discussing matters of fiscal policy, government spending, and economic regulation.

Indiana Senate

Spartz's political career began in 2017, when she was selected to fill the Indiana Senate seat vacated by longtime Republican state senator Luke Kenley, who retired from the 20th district. The selection was made by Republican precinct committee members in the district, and Spartz was described at the time as a "surprise pick" for the appointment. She was chosen over several other candidates to fill the vacancy and assumed office on October 1, 2017.

During her time in the Indiana Senate, Spartz represented the 20th district, which encompasses portions of Hamilton County and the northern suburbs of Indianapolis. She served on various committees and focused on issues related to fiscal policy, government efficiency, and education. She also worked on legislation related to economic development in Indiana.

Spartz served in the Indiana Senate until November 17, 2020, when she resigned to prepare to take her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. She was succeeded in the state senate by Scott Baldwin.

2020 Congressional Campaign

Republican Primary

In 2020, Spartz entered the Republican primary for Indiana's 5th congressional district, which was being vacated by retiring incumbent Susan Brooks. The district, which includes much of the northern Indianapolis suburbs, Hamilton County, and surrounding areas, was considered a competitive seat. The Republican primary drew a large field of candidates, making it one of the most closely watched races in the state.

Spartz won the Republican primary on June 2, 2020, emerging from the crowded field to secure the party's nomination. Her campaign emphasized her immigrant background, her experience in business and finance, her record in the Indiana Senate, and her opposition to socialism, which she drew from her personal upbringing in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Ukraine.

General Election

In the November 2020 general election, Spartz faced Democratic nominee Christina Hale, a former Indiana state representative. The race was one of the most competitive in the state and attracted national attention as both parties invested resources in the contest. Spartz won the election, securing her seat in the U.S. House of Representatives. Her victory was historic, as she became the first Ukrainian-born person to serve in the United States Congress.

Following her election, Spartz was among a group of newly elected Republican House members who formed the "Freedom Force," a group intended as a conservative counterpart to the progressive "Squad" within the Democratic caucus.

U.S. House of Representatives

Spartz took office on January 3, 2021, succeeding Susan Brooks as the representative for Indiana's 5th congressional district. During her tenure, she has focused on fiscal policy, government accountability, national defense, and issues related to Ukraine, drawing on her personal connection to the country.

Spartz has been noted for her independent approach within the Republican conference. During one congressional term, she declined to receive Republican committee assignments, an unusual decision that underscored her willingness to break with party leadership. This decision drew attention from political observers and media commentators.

In her congressional office, Spartz has engaged in constituent services typical of a House member, including the nomination of high school seniors from Indiana's 5th District to U.S. military service academies. In November 2025, her office announced the names of students nominated for the 2025 military academy cycle.

Spartz has also pursued legislative initiatives. In early 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 7194, the Nicholas Dockery Medal of Honor Act, which Spartz championed.

Town Hall Controversies

Spartz's tenure has not been without controversy. In March 2025, a town hall meeting held in an Indiana suburb became a contentious event, with a large and vocal crowd booing the congresswoman throughout the two-hour session. Attendees reportedly shouted "do your job" at Spartz during the event, reflecting constituent frustrations over various national and local issues.

2026 Reelection Campaign

In January 2026, Spartz filed paperwork to run for reelection to Indiana's 5th congressional district seat. In discussing her reelection bid, Spartz outlined her priorities for the district, which included ongoing focus on fiscal issues and government accountability.

Her reelection bid is expected to face a challenge from Democratic state senator J.D. Ford, who announced his candidacy for the 5th Congressional District seat. Ford, a state senator from Indiana's 29th district, said that the redistricting process motivated his decision to run for the seat. The Indiana Capital Chronicle also reported on Ford's congressional campaign as a challenge to Spartz.

Personal Life

Victoria Spartz is married to Jason Spartz, and the couple has two children. The family resides in Noblesville, Indiana, within the boundaries of Indiana's 5th congressional district. Spartz became a naturalized United States citizen after immigrating from Ukraine.

Spartz has spoken publicly about her upbringing in the Soviet Union and independent Ukraine, and she has used her personal experiences as a framework for discussing American political issues, particularly those related to government power, individual liberty, and economic freedom. In a 2018 column, she wrote about the significance of American citizenship and the contrast between life under Soviet socialism and the freedoms available in the United States. Following her election to Congress, she reiterated these themes in media appearances, cautioning against what she described as the dangers of socialist policies.

Recognition

Spartz's election to Congress in 2020 was recognized as a historic milestone by several organizations. The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council noted that she was the first person born in Ukraine to serve in the United States Congress, describing it as a historic first for the Ukrainian-American community.

Her inclusion in the newly formed "Freedom Force" group of Republican House members in 2020, alongside other newly elected conservatives, drew national media attention as a counterpoint to the progressive "Squad" within the Democratic caucus.

Spartz's campaign and subsequent service in Congress have also been the subject of coverage by major national outlets, including The New York Times, the Associated Press, The Indianapolis Star, Fox News, and Business Insider, reflecting the national interest in her background and political positions.

Legacy

As the first Ukrainian-born member of the United States Congress, Spartz occupies a unique position in American political history. Her personal story of immigration from the former Soviet Union to elected office in the United States has been cited as an example of the possibilities available to immigrants in American public life. Her vocal opposition to socialism, grounded in her firsthand experiences growing up in the Soviet Union and post-Soviet Ukraine, has made her a prominent voice on these issues within the Republican Party.

Spartz's path from appointed state senator to elected member of Congress, accomplished within a relatively short span of three years, has also been noted by political observers. Her willingness to operate independently within the Republican conference—exemplified by her decision to forgo committee assignments during one term—has distinguished her from many of her colleagues and has been the subject of analysis by political commentators.

Her ongoing service in Congress, her legislative work including the Nicholas Dockery Medal of Honor Act, and her engagement with constituents through town halls and other events continue to shape her record as a representative of Indiana's 5th congressional district.