A down-ballot candidate from the right throws a wrench into the Indiana governor's race
Indiana is about as Republican as a state can be
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun's bid to become governor of Indiana seemed fairly straightforward until he got the running mate he didn't want: a pastor and self-proclaimed Christian nationalist who finessed his way onto next month's ballot.
Micah Beckwith, a podcaster from the Indianapolis suburb of Noblesville, where he leads Life Church, secured enough delegate support to upend the lieutenant governor nomination process at this year's state GOP convention and become Braun's running mate. His brand of conservatism has complicated the race by forcing Braun to discuss Beckwith's views.
Friction between the running mates and a series of negative ads have given an unexpected boost to Democratic nominees Jennifer McCormick and Terry Goodin, the overwhelming underdogs in a state that hasn't elected a Democrat to statewide office since 2012. The dynamics on the Republican ticket plus strong campaigns from the Democrats have caused forecasters to hedge on their certainty that both seats will stay Republican.
“The race is more competitive relative to expectations,” said Greg Shufeldt, a University of Indianapolis political science professor.
