Republicans Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith will be the next Indiana governor and lieutenant governor, The Associated Press called at 7 p.m. with 14% of votes counted. With 94% of votes counted, Braun is leading by a margin of nearly 14%.
Braun, now a U.S. Senator, is winning a contentious gubernatorial race against Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater. His inauguration will be Jan. 13, 2025.
“We're going to take Indiana to places we've never seen before,” Braun said in a victory speech, the IndyStar reported.
McCormick officially conceded the race around 10 p.m.
"While tonight's outcome is disappointing, I know we waged a campaign based on hope and optimism, not one of fear and chaos," McCormick said in a statement.
Braun and Beckwith’s platform focused on the economy, with Braun calling for a 3% cap on annual property tax increases. Under his education platform, Braun has proposed universal school choice, banning gender-affirming care for minors and protecting “parental rights” regarding input on school curriculum and materials.
Braun supports Indiana’s near-total abortion ban and has called for the legalization of medical cannabis in the state.
The campaign was occasionally sidetracked by controversy surrounding Beckwith’s comments on firing state officials who use pronouns in email signatures and deporting legal Haitian immigrants from the state, among others.
State Republicans in June narrowly nominated Beckwith, a Noblesville pastor and self-proclaimed “Christian nationalist,” over Braun and former President Donald Trump’s endorsed pick, Rep. Julie McGuire.
The campaign also faced scrutiny after releasing a commercial that depicted McCormick in front of digitally-altered signs, falsely suggesting she wanted to ban gas stoves. The Braun campaign said it mistakenly sent the ad to networks without a disclaimer noting the alterations. A state law which took effect this year requires political advertisements include a disclaimer if they include manipulated images. A later version of the ad included one.
Braun represented Indiana State House District 63 from 2014-17. He defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly for U.S. Senate in 2018. He is president and CEO of Meyer Distributing, and nonpartisan non-profit OpenSecrets valued his net worth as more than $136 million in 2018.
The Indiana governor is the state’s chief executive officer. The governor can issue executive orders and serves as the commander-in-chief of the Indiana armed forces. He signs or vetoes legislation passed by the Indiana House and Senate
The governor also appoints six of IU’s nine-member Board of Trustees.
The lieutenant governor is the President of the Indiana Senate and assumes the office if the sitting governor becomes unable to fulfill the office’s duties. He also oversees certain state agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Housing and Community Development Authority.
UPDATE: This story was updated to include Jennifer McCormick's concession.
