A special Indiana Republican panel has picked Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb as the new GOP nominee for the open governor’s seat, replacing Governor Mike Pence after he moved to join Trump’s national ticket.
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Since Gov. Mike Pence headed off to NY 13 days ago to be named the GOP vice presidential candidate, he hasn’t had a single public meeting or event in Indiana.
Mike Pence was facing a stiff test in the November election as he faced re-election, but now that he’s been tapped as Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate, that fight has been handed over to another candidate.
Pence and at least three members of the committee are publicly backing Holcomb.
Holcomb prevailed over three other candidates for the nod – U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, R-Indiana, U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-Indiana, and Indiana Sen.
Albright said the Holcomb pick makes sense but acknowledges tapping Congresswoman Susan Brooks to run for governor could’ve made for a more competitive race against Democrats John Gregg and Christina Hale.
“I am speaking for myself, that I have had discussions with the governor and I look forward to his support”, Holcomb said. While there may be a new name on the ballot, the issues remain the same.
“For too many Hoosier families, wages aren’t keeping up and the good paying jobs we are losing aren’t being replaced”, Gregg says.
Holcomb and Pence both attended southern Indiana’s Hanover College and were members of the same fraternity, though at different times.
Holcomb is focused on business, education and infrastructure.
U.S. Rep. Todd Young, who is running for the seat Coats is vacating in the U.S. Senate, said he can attest to Holcomb’s “dedication to serving our state”.
A year later, Walker will be back to welcome Pence, who will be campaigning in the deepest Republican part of Wisconsin, an area that Trump must do well in if he hopes to win Wisconsin. The people of IN do not want another four years of a Mike Pence puppet show, tugging on the strings of hardworking Hoosiers.
Now, Eyewitness News is waiting to hear who Lt. Gov. Holcomb will choose as his running mate for his current position of Lt. Governor.
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Holcomb later served as state Republican Party chairman, at the request of Daniels, who famously declared a truce on social issues as a means to bolster support among women and moderates. Dan Coats, and he was a former close adviser to former Gov. Mitch Daniels. And Holcomb pressed his case over the weekend, arguing he had been promised assistance from Pence’s more than $7 million campaign fund, which he said was “something no other candidate in this race can boast”. For the first time in state history, Republicans are fielding a candidate not selected by voters or delegates to a party convention. In 2000, Holcomb ran for office in the Indiana House of Representatives and was defeated by Democratic incumbent John Frenz.
