U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, R-Indiana, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, wanted McGuire for his lieutenant governor. Though she did not win, he made it clear who would be in control of a Braun administration.
“My running mate can say whatever he wants. If it doesn’t make sense, if it doesn’t resonate, remember I’m going to be the governor,” he said at the convention in response to reporters’ questions.
“There is no doubt about this: I am in charge. And Micah is going to be someone who works with me. And if he doesn’t, I think that means that it will probably not be as fruitful in terms of what we can get done.”
Beckwith and Braun will go up against the Democrats’ lieutenant governor nominee, who will be chosen at their convention July 13. That person will serve alongside Jennifer McCormick, the Democratic gubernatorial candidate.
“I refuse to turn Indiana over to a Braun-Beckwith team,” said McCormick in a press release. “They are dangerous, divisive, and extreme—and embody the fear and chaos that has taken our state on a dangerous path.
“This year, Hoosiers will have a simple choice. The freedom to choose or the ban of reproductive freedoms. The freedom to learn or book bans. Democracy or insurrection. I know where I stand and I know Hoosiers have had enough of the Braun-Beckwith agenda.”
LGBTQ+ elected members of Indiana government—including Sen. J.D. Ford, D-Indianapolis; Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll; Bloomington City Clerk Nicole Bolden; South Bend City Clerk Bianca Tirado; Indianapolis City County Council Vice President Ali Brown; Monroe County School Board Member April Hennessey; and Bloomington City Councilwoman Sydney Zulich—released a statement speaking out against Beckwith’s nomination.
“We are extremely disappointed and extremely concerned about the direction of our state with Micah Beckwith becoming the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Beckwith banned hundreds of books as a local library board member, telling families and students what they can and can’t read, bringing Florida-style politics to our state, and leading to a backlash from parents and students,” they said.
“We must reject such extremism that threatens to make our state a pariah on the national level. We can’t roll back the historic civil rights gains supported by the vast majority of Hoosiers. A Braun-Beckwith ticket puts LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, and more all on the line, and Hoosiers have the power to stop them by electing Jennifer McCormick to the governor’s office this November.”
The day after the convention, Anne Hathaway released a statement that she is stepping down as Indiana Republican Chairwoman after just 10 months.
“As the Republican National Committeewoman, I am not leaving, I am just returning to my seat on the committee,” she said in the press release. “I look forward to continuing to represent Indiana within the RNC and to continue to support our grassroots operations across the state as we work to elect our next President, Governor and Republicans up and down the ticket.”
