Republican incumbent Gov. Eric Holcomb was elected to a second term in the 2020 General Election on Nov. 3, defeating Democratic candidate Dr. Woody Myers and Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater.
Governors serve four-year terms and can only serve for eight years in a 12-year period in Indiana.
Holcomb was elected as governor of Indiana after President Donald Trump selected former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence, who was running for reelection, as his vice presidential running mate in 2016.
For the entire state Holcomb received 58% of the votes. Myers got 29.5% of the votes and Rainwater received 12.5%.
Holcomb received around 39% of the vote in Monroe County. Myers won the county with around 53% of the vote and Rainwater received around 8% of the vote, according to unofficial results from the Monroe County Elections Board.
Holcomb delivered his victory speech at about 9:45 p.m. in the Grand Ballroom of the JW Marriott in Indianapolis.
He thanked his family for their support, choking up when he told the crowd that his favorite part of his day is when he comes home to see his wife Janet. He also thanked his campaign team for what he said was an ever-positive campaign and his staff that has worked with him during his time in office.
“When I think of each and every contribution that you all made, I burst with pride,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb said he and his opponent Democrat Dr. Woody Myers, who has conceded his campaign, had talked on the phone earlier that evening.
“I thanked him for stepping up and stepping forward and offering an option, offering a real contribution to the conversation we are having as Hoosiers to where we want to lead this state,” Holcomb said.
Holcomb said he would work hard for the next four years for those that did and didn’t vote for him.
“Whether or not you voted for me or Suzanne, thank you for voting,” Holcomb said. “Let’s get busy.”
The five pillars of Holcomb’s campaign are to cultivate a strong and diverse economy, maintain and build the state’s infrastructure, develop a 21st century skilled and ready workforce, “attack” the drug epidemic and deliver great government service, according to his campaign website.
Holly Lawson, press secretary for the Indiana Republican Party, said in his second term, Holcomb plans to focus on lowering the infant mortality rate in Indiana, growing the state’s economy, increasing employment, finishing work on I-69 and providing greater racial equality.
At the gubernatorial debate on Oct. 27, Holcomb emphasized his success during his first term as governor, specifically with lowering the infant mortality rate. He said the biggest issue in Indiana today is improving people’s skills for the workforce.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Woody Myers conceded in his brief speech after 9 p.m. He thanked those who voted in difficult conditions and praised high voter turnout rates.
“That must be nurtured, not further suppressed or ignored,” Myers said. “Voting, like breathing, should be easy, not hard. It’s way past time for that and so much else to change.”
This story was updated at 12:12 a.m. Wednesday.
