Kayla Dwyer,Brittany CarloniIndianapolis Star
Bucking tradition, Indiana's Republican delegates have rejected U.S. Sen. Mike Braun's choice for lieutenant governor, instead nominating Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith, whose unconventional campaign centered around giving delegates a choice.
The lieutenant governor race was the main event at Saturday's GOP convention, a biennial gathering of party officials and more than 1,800 elected delegates from across the state. Delegates had a choice between Beckwith and state Rep. Julie McGuire, who was Braun's endorsed candidate.
"I'm humbled, I'm overwhelmed and I am encouraged that Indiana knows that the power of the government rests with the people," Beckwith said, before walking off the stage to "God Bless the U.S.A."
Beckwith won the vote 891-828.
Taking the stage with his new running mate, Braun reiterated his support for having some competition, and said Beckwith did "a heck of a job."
"And Micah," Braun said, looking at Beckwith, "even though I chose someone else to be my partner, you and I have known one another. Everything you believe in, I have as well. I'm a guy that knows how to get from here to there. I'll handle it well, even when it doesn't go your way. And we will take Indiana to that next level because everything you're interested in that you've been disappointed with recently, that's gonna change."
Republican delegates hadn't had multiple candidates to choose from for this office since 1996, when gubernatorial nominee Stephen Goldsmith opted not to endorse a running mate and six people hopped in. Traditionally, the party ceremoniously approves the gubernatorial nominee's pick.
Interest in the race was omnipresent. At least half the attending delegates sported some sort of merchandise associated with one of the camps, from McGuire stickers and signs to Beckwith buttons, bags and cardboard hand wavers. One of Beckwith's buttons said "I'm a delegate, not a rubber stamp!!"
And dotted throughout were the occasional bright green shirts ― a reminder of Secretary of State Diego Morales' convention upset two years ago.
Donald Trump endorsed Julie McGuire. It didn't matter.
The outcome was by no means a guaranteed victory for either candidate. Perhaps emphasizing that point, the Braun team called in a favor Thursday night: an endorsem*nt of McGuire from former President Donald Trump.
Though there was a Trump-themed booth with T-shirts, the response to his late endorsem*nt was tepid. Beckwith supporters were already all-in, some decked out head-to-toe in merch. They largely saw the Trump endorsem*nt as a last-ditch attempt to influence the race rather than genuine support from the former president, who likely has little notion of the lieutenant governor race in Indiana.
"I'm a die-hard Trump supporter. I'm going to vote for him with enthusiasm in the fall, but he doesn't know what's going on in Indiana," said David Winters, a delegate from Danville. "This is not something I think he actually vetted. Trump always talks about loyalty, and Mike Braun has been loyal by him and vice versa."
Neither was it likely to affect the thinking of more traditional, party-supporting Republicans, those who dislike Trumpian politics. Undecided delegate Nate Lamar of Henry County said the endorsem*nt didn't affect his thinking at all.
"Trump's not a real Republican," he said. "Trump's an opportunist."
In remarks to delegates before the vote, McGuire covered wide ground: She promised never to have a mask or vaccine mandate in Indiana, and talked about funding the police, getting children to read proficiently by third grade, and putting parents in charge of their children's education. She recalled her surprise when Braun called her to be his running mate.
She also touted endorsem*nts from Trump and 150 other elected officials and community leaders.
More on Micah Beckwith: Pastor who led book removal policy in HamCo resigns from library board
Mike Braun on lt. gov. pick: 'I'm in charge'
Aside from the rapturous applause upon Beckwith's win, the loudest cheering of the day might have been in response to convention chair Randy Head saying that all the texts, mailers, ads, and meet and greets are finally over.
Delegates have been barraged since the gubernatorial primary in May. The day after the primary, Braun, the Republican nominee, announced his endorsem*nt of McGuire for his running mate; Beckwith had been courting delegates since he announced his unusual campaign a year ago.
Beckwith pitched himself as someone who would provide a check on the governor's office, who would approach the lieutenant governor role with his own agenda, rather than bowing to that of the governor. He also has a prominent focus on social issues, whereas the Braun-McGuire campaign focused mostly on the economy.
Braun had seen McGuire as a "COO" to his "CEO" ― someone who wouldn't upstage him but would work diligently toward his goals.
Speaking to reporters after the convention wrapped, Braun downplayed the challenge ahead ― marrying his and Beckwith's philosophies on the role of lieutenant governor, leading a clearly divided party ― saying it doesn't compare to his prior challenges of running a business through the Great Recession and defeating two sitting congressmen in his race for Senate in 2018.
"Micah worked his tail off. We did as well," Braun said. "But there's no doubt about this: I'm in charge. And Micah is going to be someone that 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."
More: Indiana's GOP convention is Saturday. Delegates have one major decision to make.
Micah Beckwith targeted 'woke agenda'
In his remarks, Beckwith, flanked by a few dozen sign-carrying supporters on stage, recounted his time leading a controversial book relocation policy on the Hamilton East Public Library Board, the 4,500 religious exemptions he wrote for people who didn't want to take the COVID-19 vaccine, a couple who went into business but had to shut down when the government deemed them "nonessential."
"The woke agenda is everywhere," he said. "And it is not going away unless we have strong conservative leadership."
Beckwith quoted both Ronald Reagan and Trump in his remarks, both with regard to thinking big ― "maybe bigly, might have been the word that he used," he joked.
His top priorities include property tax relief and "bringing truth back into our schools" ― a reference to conservatives' critique of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
The only other nomination for delegates to make Saturday was the Republican slot for attorney general, in which Attorney General Todd Rokita ran unopposed.
Before delegates voted to nominate him, Rokita mounted the stage in red boxing gloves, miniature versions of which supporters wore on lanyards. He promised to fight the Democrats' "woke" agenda. The entire crowd approved him with a "yea;" there were no nays. Then he descended to the "Rocky" theme song.
What's next
Few were entirely certain what would actually happen Saturday.
Party insiders were predicting a close race, usually in favor of McGuire. Once Beckwith's name was announced, supporters erupted, while others started to trickle out of the convention center.
There's every indication Democrats will use this as fuel in the November election. After Beckwith's win, state party Chair Mike Schmuhl released a fiery statement saying that Beckwith's win "shows how out-of-the-mainstream extremism has hijacked the current Indiana GOP.”
“Beckwith will bring the worst of the culture wars to the lieutenant governor’s office, which is usually tasked with increasing tourism and supporting agriculture," Schmuhl said. "He is dangerous for business, dangerous for women, dangerous for families, and dangerous for Indiana’s future.”
Braun told IndyStar he doesn't see this result having an impact in November.
"Because if they're putting that much on a lieutenant governor, that's giving more clout to that position than what it is," he said. "I mean, that position's about doing some things constitutionally that you've got to do. If you want to make it a pulpit for what you're interested in, you know, I might suggest otherwise, and I'll still get my agenda through."
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter@kayla_dwyer17.
