The Indiana Republican Central Committee will decide Tuesday who will replace Gov. Mike Pence on the ballot in November.
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Holcomb, a 48-year-old former state Republican chairman who has never been elected to office, was only recently appointed lieutenant governor after Pence’s prior running mate stepped down in March.
Democrat governor candidate John Gregg has been waiting for Republicans to sort out who he will face in November.
Donald Trump’s running mate Mike Pence is making Waukesha his first solo stop as a Vice Presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, Holcomb’s fellow Republicans praised the state committee’s choice.
As Hoosier political observers know, Pence alienated many Hoosiers with his anti-civil-rights Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and infuriated many others with his support for an overly restrictive anti-abortion bill that has failed one court challenge already and awaits another.
The choice followed a flurry of behind-the-scenes lobbying that took place after Pence was selected almost two weeks ago by Donald Trump as his vice presidential pick.
“It might not be a good idea to wrap yourself around that issue right now, John Gregg has certainly distanced himself from that”, said Democratic Fort Wayne 5th District council member Geoff Paddock.
Eric Holcomb is jumping into the governor’s race with just over three months to go, but colleagues say he’ll catch up fast.
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. “I believe people will see that John Gregg is the right person for the job and the best choice for governor”.
“The only way we continue Indiana’s progress is by joining together, which we’ve done today”, Holcomb says.
It was Holcomb who pushed Daniels, a policy wonk, to travel to small towns and into popular eateries, like the Cone Palace in Kokomo, said Howard County Republican Chairman Craig Dunn.
Alting said he’s doing the gentlemanly thing by deciding not to run against Rokita.
In southern Indiana, Holcomb received some support from one of the people he will be sharing the ticket with. However, a rejection of Holcomb could embarrass Pence just days after his ratification as the Republican vice presidential candidate. The committee’s vote wasn’t released by party leaders.
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U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita also sought the nomination and congratulated Holcomb after the nomination was announced. “The people of IN deserve more than an ideologue running our state – we need a leader willing to fight for working families”. “This job is too important to be a consolation prize”, Gregg said.
