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Jennifer McCormick, Democrats look to capitalize on Republicans nominating Micah Beckwith

Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick spoke to reporters about Republicans nominating Micah Beckwith as lieutenant governor at a press conference on June 18, 2024.
Indiana Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick spoke to reporters about Republicans nominating Micah Beckwith as lieutenant governor at a press conference on June 18, 2024.

Indiana Democrats are trying to capitalize on the opportunity they see in the governor’s race after Republicans nominated self-proclaimed Christian nationalist  Micah Beckwith for lieutenant governor.

State Democratic leadership said Beckwith’s nomination exposes serious cracks and divisions within the GOP.

Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick is a former Republican officeholder. And she said Republicans nominating Micah Beckwith is the kind of thing that made her leave that party.

“We cannot — cannot — turn Indiana over to extremism,” McCormick said.

READ MORE: What does it take to run for Indiana governor?

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McCormick faces a huge financial disadvantage in the race against Republican Mike Braun. But she said resources have been coming in more easily since Beckwith got the nod.

“But also, we are very strong in a grassroots coalition,” McCormick said. “So, we are relying on those folks who will go talk to their family and talk to their neighbors.”

McCormick plans to announce her choice for running mate Thursday.

In a statement, the Braun campaign called McCormick a “dishonest progressive” and said Braun and Beckwith have a “vision to make Indiana the most entrepreneurial state and improve the lives of Hoosiers.”

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.