The clock is ticking: The Indiana Republican Party now has less than 30 days to pick a new Republican candidate for the state’s gubernatorial election this fall.
The countdown started after Gov. Mike Pence was selected as presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s vice presidential pick and running mate. A 22-member executive committee will make the final decision.
Several prominent Hoosier politicians have left their original races to put themselves in the running to be the next governor of Indiana. Former Indiana governor Mitch Daniels, who was initially questioned about running for another term as governor, shut down rumors when the Indianapolis Star reported he was firmly not re-running.
John Gregg, a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives, is the Democratic candidate for governor.
We broke down the three Republican candidates who have filed for the race so far.
Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb
Holcomb is an Indiana native and a veteran of the United States Navy. He’s been an adviser to former governor Mitch Daniels and Sen. Dan Coats, R-Ind., and is a former state chairman of the Indiana Republican Party.
He was nominated by Pence to serve as the lieutenant governor on March 2, 2016, and was sworn into office the next day. He oversees several state departments, including the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, the Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority the Office of Defense Development and the Office of Small Business and Entrepreneurship.
Holcomb attended Hanover College in southeastern Indiana and graduated with a degree in U.S. history.
When Pence was named Trump’s VP pick, Holcomb released a statement describing Pence as a man of “unimpeachable integrity, broad experience and a deep love of this country.”
As a part of the governor’s team in Indiana already, Holcomb’s transition from lieutenant governor to governor could be relatively smooth.
U.S. Rep. Susan Brooks, R-5th District
Brooks is currently a congresswoman representing the 5th District of Indiana, which includes eight counties in central Indiana. She also serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Ethics Committee and is a member of several subcommittees focusing on health, commerce, investigations and trade.
Before her position as a congresswoman, Brooks served as the senior vice president and general counsel for Ivy Tech Community College for five years and was appointed by former president George W. Bush as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana in 2001.
Brooks studied at Miami University for her undergraduate education and earned a Juris Doctor from the IU Robert H. McKinney School of Law.
Brooks withdrew from her re-election race as a congresswoman shortly after Pence was announced as Trump’s running mate.
U.S. Rep. Todd Rokita, R-4th District
Current congressman Todd Rokita represents Indiana’s 4th District. Before becoming a member of the House of Representatives, he served as Indiana’s secretary of state.
Rokita focuses on the values of limited government, constitutionalism and free enterprise, according to his website. He is the vice chairman of the House Budget Committee, a member of the House Education and Workforce Committee and was selected to join the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee in the 114th Congress.
Rokita studied at Wabash College and earned a bachelor of arts degree, as well as being named an Eli Lilly Fellow.
He released a statement to the Indianapolis Star earlier in July stating he wanted to join the gubernatorial race this fall.
Anicka Slachta
