INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick says she will announce her choice for a running mate this Thursday.
McCormick held a press conference Tuesday to talk about the Republican candidates she'll be running against, Sen. Mike Braun and businessman and pastor Micah Beckwith.
This past Saturday Republican delegates chose Beckwith to be the Republican candidate for lieutenant governor, over Braun's choice, Republican State Rep. Julie McGuire.
McCormick called her pick for running mate a person of character, someone who is laser-focused on public service.
McCormick, a former Republican who served as Indiana's superintendent of public instruction, also offered thoughts on Beckwith's nomination.
"It really did show you that Beckwith is in control of the party in this moment and that is very unfortunate for the Republican Party of Indiana," McCormick said during a press conference.
Democrats couched Beckwith's nomination as a lost battle for the Braun campaign.
The Beckwith campaign issued a statement which said:
"Misleading Hoosiers is no way to win an election. Everyone knows, except Ms. McCormick, that Mike Braun soundly won the May Primary. McCormick is desperately grasping at straws because no one wants the failed Democrat policies of out of control inflation, the radicalization of our children, or taxing us into poverty."
After Beckwith's nomination Saturday, Braun was asked about past statements from Beckwith claiming that God told him that God sent the riots to Washington on Jan. 6 and it was God's hand at work.
"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," Braun said.
Braun's senior advisor issued a statement Tuesday which read:
"Through their Freedom and Opportunity agenda, Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith have a vision to make Indiana the most entrepreneurial state and improve the lives of Hoosiers, while Jennifer McCormick is still trying to convince someone, anyone, to be her liberal running mate."
The statement went on to say:
"McCormick's troubles are rooted in the fact that she's a dishonest progressive who can't even tell Hoosiers who she voted for in previous presidential elections, which even Democrats admit is embarrassing."
UIndy political science professor Dr. Laura Merrifield Wilson says McCormick is in a unique position heading into November because she's a former Republican now running as a Democrat.
"Because of that interesting perspective that she has, I think she'll be able to talk to Republicans in a way they'll hear her differently, in a way than other candidates would be able to address them," said Merrifield-Wilson.
The message McCormick put out Tuesday was that what happened at the Indiana Republican Party State Convention has given her campaign momentum, while acknowledging the challenge of straight ticket voting in red state Indiana.
"I'm going into really red areas and having a lot of coffees with a lot of Republicans and the response has been great," McCormick said.