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Cyndi Carrasco chosen by GOP precinct caucus to replace Jack Sandlin in Indiana Senate

Cyndi Carrasco speaks to Republican precinct caucus members before those members voted to send her to the Indiana Senate on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.
Cyndi Carrasco speaks to Republican precinct caucus members before those members voted to send her to the Indiana Senate on Wednesday, Oct. 18, 2023.

Former state Inspector General Cyndi Carrasco will be Indiana’s newest state senator.

A Republican precinct caucus chose Carrasco Wednesday to  replace Jack Sandlin, who  died unexpectedly last month.

Carrasco has a long career of government service. She worked for eight years in the inspector general’s office before becoming the first woman to serve in that role. She was deputy general counsel for Gov. Eric Holcomb and also recently worked for the Indiana House of Representatives as an attorney.

She said those experiences will allow her to hit the ground running as a lawmaker.

“To be able to focus on the issues, on developing the relationships that are necessary in order for me to be an effective legislator,” Carrasco said.

A former candidate for Marion County prosecutor, Carrasco said a key issue she’ll focus on is public safety.

Carrasco overwhelmingly defeated former state Rep. John Jacob in the precinct caucus.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at  bsmith@ipbs.org  or follow him on Twitter at  @brandonjsmith5 .

Brandon J. Smith has previously worked as a reporter and anchor for KBIA Radio in Columbia, MO. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, IL as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.