Mike Braun wins GOP nomination to serve as governor of Indiana

The GOP primary race to serve as Indiana’s next governor concluded Tuesday evening after it was announced Sen. Mike Braun received the most votes and will serve as the party’s nominee for the role in November.

A total of six candidates ran in the GOP gubernatorial primary election to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who has held the position since 2017.

Each of the six candidates in the competitive, multimillion-dollar primary race cast themselves as an outsider in an appeal to conservative voters ahead of the election, despite five holding statewide roles at some point.

The six Republican candidates who competed for their party’s nomination on Tuesday included Braun, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, former state Commerce Secretary Brad Chambers, former state Economic Development Corp. President Eric Doden, former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and resident Jamie Reitenour.

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Braun boasted several advantages – such as name recognition, money and former President Trump’s endorsement – ahead of Tuesday’s election.

Braun, who flipped a Democrat-held Senate seat in 2018, announced his decision to enter the race in November 2022. His campaign spent over $6 million in 2024, according to the latest summary report.

Trump endorsed Braun last November, saying he “was proud to endorse Mike when he ran for the Senate in 2018, and I am proud to do so again.”

“Mike Braun has my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Governor of the Great State of Indiana!” Trump said in a Truth Social post at the time.

Crouch – another familiar name thanks to running twice with Holcomb – campaigned to slash the state’s income tax and promised to boost addiction and mental illness services prior to the election. Crouch ended the most recent fundraising period with $3 million – the most cash on hand of any Indiana gubernatorial candidate. However, she spent only $2.1 million in the first three months of the year.

Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch (Scotty Perry/Bloomberg via Getty Images/File)

Chambers’ messaging leading up to the election was more moderate than the other candidates, with a large focus being placed on the economy. Chambers spent $6.7 million this year, and reports revealed he contributed $8 million to his campaign.

Doden’s priorities ahead of Tuesday’s election included a plan to invest in Indiana’s small towns. He…