Indianapolis, Indiana – Senator Mike Braun said on Monday that he will run for governor of Indiana in 2024.
Braun’s announcement was expected after he filed paperwork on November 30 that showed he wanted to run for the highest office in the state. This would make a Senate seat available in 2024.
He joins Indiana Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch in running for governor in 2024. Crouch’s official campaign for governor began on Monday.
Braun won the Senate race in Indiana in 2018, when he beat the Democrat incumbent, Joe Donnelly, in the general election.
Braun grew up in Jasper and went to Jasper High School. He became well-known as a businessman. He got involved in state politics as a representative for Indiana District 63 from 2014 to 2017.
Then he turned his attention to the Senate race in 2018. He beat Todd Rokita and Luke Messer in the primary, and then went on to beat Joe Donnelly.
Vice President Mike Pence gave him his oath of office on January 3, 2019.
Braun is running to replace Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has already been governor of Indiana for two terms and can’t run again.
After Braun’s paperwork was turned in, the Indiana Democratic Party said in a statement:
“As a so-called businessman, Mike Braun has done very little to improve Indiana as a U.S. senator and he surely won’t do it as governor. Braun’s half-hearted efforts have been ineffective, and he’s been more likely to be spotted on national cable TV shows than talking to Hoosiers in real life about solving real problems.
Time and time again, Braun rejected state economic investments, job creation programs for workers, and critical infrastructure projects – like broadband – needed to create a better future for Hoosier families and the state’s overall fiscal and public health.
What’s worse, Braun supports a form of extremism that was soundly rejected in the U.S. Senate just last night through The Respect for Marriage Act and his stances on social issues are out of step with the majority of Hoosiers. The Senator’s dangerous record – which also includes inciting an insurrection against our country – would be grounds to earn a pink slip in any other line of work.
A Mike Braun administration would do nothing to improve the state’s dismal quality-of-life, workforce, and education rankings, and coming up on 20 years of Republican state administrations, Hoosiers deserve honest leadership that will put an end to extremist politics and chart a course for a modern and better Indiana where everyone has the freedom to thrive.”
