By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
January 14, 2025
In his inaugural address Monday morning, Gov. Mike Braun said Indiana is facing a “new crossroads” and its leaders must be “the risk-takers and trailblazers that Hoosiers deserve,” rather than leaders who “maintain the status quo.”
Braun delivered his remarks after being sworn in as Indiana’s 52nd governor – and the fourth Republican to be elected to the office since 2004 – in an hour-long ceremony at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Also as part of the ceremony, incumbent Attorney General Todd Rokita and incoming Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith took their respective oaths of office and gave brief speeches.
Noting that president-elect Donald Trump would be inaugurated next Monday and that both the U.S. House and U.S. Senate would be under Republican control, Braun said the next four years will have special meaning for Indiana and the country. In particular, he believes Indiana and the other states will be given more opportunity to govern themselves.
“The opportunity ahead is far more significant and I am optimistic that the next four years (will) see not only a change in leadership at the state and federal levels, but also a transfer of assumed power from the federal government back to the states,” Braun said. “For too long, Washington has focused on Washington and not on the American people. That is why the states must assume a leadership role.”
This was the state’s first in-person gubernatorial inauguration since the COVID-19 pandemic forced Gov. Eric Holcomb’s 2021 inauguration to take place virtually. Braun’s inauguration ceremony capped a weekend of activities that included an inaugural ball Saturday evening at the JW Marriott in Indianapolis. On Sunday, the Braun family attended Mass at Saints Peter and Paul Cathedral in Indianapolis and then greeted the public at the Hoosier Heritage Family Day at the Indiana State Museum.
People attending Braun’s inauguration stood outside in the bitter cold in a long line that curled around Monument Circle, before the doors of the Hilbert Theatre opened at 9:30 a.m. Monday. Once inside, many of the attendees walked quickly to their seats with several stopping to greet each other with a “How are you?” and a hug.
Republican and Democratic state lawmakers, bundled in winter coats, filed through the lobby to their seats on the main floor of the theater. Joining them were several members of Indiana’s congressional delegation, including Republican Reps. Mark Messmer, Jefferson Shreve, Marlin Stutzman and Victoria Spartz and the state’s Republican U.S. Sens. Todd Young and Jim Banks, the latter of whom was elected in November to the seat Braun held before running for governor.
Indiana Supreme Court associate justices and judges from the Court of Appeals of Indiana and the Indiana Tax Court were in the audience. Also in the audience were mayors and local government officials from around the state, along with former Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann and former Attorney General Steve Carter.
Former Govs. Holcomb, a Republican, and Evan Bayh, a Democrat, were seated in the front row. Tera Klutz, a former Indiana state auditor, was the master of ceremonies. She opened the event by thanking Holcomb for his “humble and always civil leadership.”
When the 38th Infantry Division Band of the Indiana National Guard began playing John Philip Sousa’s march “The Stars and Stripes Forever,” Braun and his wife, Maureen, walked onto the stage accompanied by Beckwith and Rokita with their wives, and Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers; Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodrick Bray, R-Martinsville; Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush and Anne Hathaway, former chair of the Indiana GOP.
The Indiana National Guard Ceremonial Unit presented the colors, marching down the aisle of the theater and onto the stage. Then the Wabash College Glee Club sang the national anthem and three of Braun’s grandchildren led the audience in in the Pledge of Allegiance.
In his speech, Braun drew upon his background of owning and growing a small business in his hometown of Jasper, Indiana. He said Hoosiers must rely on their “entrepreneurial drive” to meet today’s challenges.
The new governor then outlined his goals, saying he wanted to make Indiana the “standard-bearer for small-business growth.” Also, Braun said he wanted to lower health care costs and increase transparency in pricing of medical services, explore ways to reduce rising property taxes, and reshape state government to improve efficiency.
“As the physical ‘Crossroads of America,’ Indiana is perfectly situated to lead our nation through the proverbial crossroads we now face,” Braun said. “Let us listen to the entrepreneurial spirit that dwells within so many of us, the path of optimism to be pursued, so others may follow.”
Braun began his career in politics by serving on his local school board, before successfully running for state representative in 2014. He left the Statehouse in 2017 to run for the U.S. Senate in 2018. He bested Rokita and former U.S. Rep. Luke Messer in the Republican primary before defeating Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly in the general election.
Announcing he would not be running for reelection, Braun entered a crowded Republican gubernatorial primary but captured the GOP nomination with 39.5% of the vote.
Braun suffered a setback at the Indiana GOP convention, when delegates rejected his choice for lieutenant governor, Rep. Julie McGuire, R-Indianapolis, and instead selected Micah Beckwith. A pastor at Life Church in Noblesville, Beckwith stirred controversy as a member of the Hamilton County East Public Library Board by leading an effort to remove books from the youth section.
After the delegates voted at the convention, Braun asserted his authority by telling reporters, “There’s no doubt about this. I’m in charge.”
Braun then had to hold off a surprising challenge from Democrat Jennifer McCormick in the general election. In October, Sabato’s Crystal Ball changed the Indiana governor’s race from “safe Republican” to “likely Republican,” but Braun was able to capture 54.4% of the vote to win.
The inauguration ceremony concluded with a performance by the Celebration Singers from Jasper. Between the songs, Braun could be seen chatting with Beckwith.
Following the event, Braun went to the governor’s office in the Statehouse.
Bray, the leader of the Indiana Senate, issued a statement congratulating Braun and Beckwith.
“We appreciate the governor’s leadership and vision for the future of Indiana, and we are excited about working with him and his team in the 2025 legislative session and beyond as we strive to improve our state for all Hoosiers,” Bray said in his statement.
Also, Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, congratulated Braun and called attention to the work ahead.
“Hoosiers deserve thoughtful leadership and meaningful action on the challenges our families face every day,” Yoder said in her statement. “I look forward to working with Gov. Braun to ensure Indiana is a place where every child can succeed, every worker is valued and every family can thrive.”
Dwight Adams, an editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org.
