1986Flipped from RepublicanFinal results
1986 election for Indiana's 5th District
U.S. House · Indiana
James Jontz (D) won with 51.4% of the vote, defeating James R. Butcher (R) by 3.4 points, a seat Republicans won last time.
James JontzDemocrat · winner
51.4%80,772
James R. ButcherRepublican
48.1%75,507
Brent WaibelLibertarian
0.5%727
157,006 votes
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
The seat over time
D − R margin in this seat's races around 1986
Races before and after
Source: MIT Election Data and Science LabUpdated Sep 30, 2026, 7:25 AM ET
Money in this race
Each line compares the two campaigns on one scale.
James JontzJames R. Butcher
$463.7K
Raised by the campaign
$423.5K
$463K
Spent by the campaign
$424.5K
$762
Cash on hand
$511
Campaign money: FEC, through Dec 31, 1986.
Source: FEC campaign filingsUpdated Dec 31, 1986