Briggs: Victoria Spartz runs for reelection to a job she hates

Few people have openly wanted out of Congress more than U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz. Now, she's trying to stay for another two years.

Spartz, who had announced she was retiring, reversed herself Monday and said she's running to return to the institution she's fantasized about leaving since the early hours of her first election to represent Indiana's 5th District in 2020.

Back then, Spartz said she was on a mission to fix a government institution controlled by career politicians. She was a business woman heading to Washington, D.C., to do a job and then return to her regular life.

In hindsight, she foreshadowed the flakiness that has defined her odd three years in office.

“I'll stay there for some time," Spartz said of her 5th District seat in 2020, moments after musing about "other things I can do in life," such as getting a Ph.D.

"But, you know, I always said I'd never be an accounting or finance person (and) became a (certified public accountant) and said I’m never going to be a politician, and then I become a politician. I don't want to promise anything.”

Four years later, Spartz is surrendering to the career politician life.

That's not so bad except that Spartz hasn't done anything to make her agony worthwhile. She's topped a "worst boss" list and made cringeworthy comments about Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Spartz is from Ukraine) while accomplishing little.

Spartz announced over a year ago she would leave Congress after this term and spent the past few months longing for her freedom, issuing statements about being part of "another worthless Congress" and lamenting, "I cannot save this Republic alone."

She seemed to have found clarity on her reasons for leaving — mainly, spending more time with family. Then, in December, she signaled she was rethinking everything. Finally, she has revealed her intention to run for reelection — but not with anywhere near the passion she has exhibited when talking about getting out.

"Deciding where your duty lies — family, work, or country, is never an easy task," Spartz said in a statement. "Earlier last year, I decided to take some time off from running for public office to recharge and spend more time in Indiana with my family.

"However, looking where we are today, and urged by many of my constituents, I do not believe I would be able to deliver this Congress, with the current failed leadership in Washington, D.C., on the important issues for our nation that I have worked very hard on."

That sounds more like a hostage statement than a rallying call for reelection.

I'm not sure why Spartz wants to spend another two years in an institution that she has more or less described as her personal hell. Her constituents might wonder about that, too.

Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Threads at @JamesEBriggs.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Victoria Spartz seeks reelection to Congress she hates