by Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle
May 8, 2024
One day after a decisive primary win, sitting U.S. Sen. Mike Braun put forth Indiana Rep. Julie McGuire as his lieutenant governor running mate for the 2024 general election.
“Julie McGuire is a strong conservative who has lived the values of faith, family, and community. Like me, Julie didn’t come from the farm system of politics – her experience comes from the real world serving her neighbors, raising a family, and getting things done on issues like child services and health freedom,” Braun said in a news release. “Julie shares my vision of making Indiana a national beacon of freedom and opportunity, and I’m proud to have her on the team.”
Braun announced his pitch for McGuire, an Indianapolis representative, in a sit-down with The Indianapolis Star on Wednesday. In Indiana, delegates in private party conventions decide the nomination of lieutenant governor alongside picks for other statewide offices, such as attorney general.
However, McGuire already has competition to become Braun’s running mate.
Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith launched an usual public bid for lieutenant governor last summer, a year before the anticipated convention.
Beckwith took to social media after the McGuire announcement, saying “while this is a solid choice, we believe a Mike Braun-Micah Beckwith team would be exceptional! Ultimately, it’s up to the elected convention delegates to decide this race, and they will have a VOICE and a CHOICE at the Indiana GOP State Convention—exactly as it should be.”
On Tuesday afternoon, Braun said he would make a recommendation and that he loved the “competition” presented by Beckwith.
“I think that it’s best for your customers and business if you compete and I think it’s the same thing in politics,” Braun said.
McGuire is a bit of a rookie in the legislature, with just two sessions under her belt. She was elected in November 2022 and was running for re-election, meaning that her position on the ballot would be filled via a caucus should she win the GOP convention nod in June.
This year she authored one bill that became law – House Enrolled Act 1369, which strengthened Indiana child molesting and rape laws related to child abuse and neglect cases. Her biography touts her support of parental rights and the rights of the unborn; educational choice for Hoosier students, the Second Amendment and law enforcement.
“I am ready to bring my perspective as a mom and the experience I’ve gained serving my community from my local church to the Statehouse to get real results on issues like health freedom, standing up for our kids, and lowering health care costs for Hoosiers,” McGuire said in a news release. ” I look forward to making my case to Hoosier delegates ahead of the Convention that I’m the right choice to win big with Mike in November and turn Indiana into a beacon of freedom and opportunity for America.”
McGuire spent over 15 years as the Parish Business Manager at St. Roch Catholic Church, and has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Indiana University.
After winning a six-primary on Tuesday, Braun will face Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater in November. Indiana hasn’t elected a Democrat to a statewide office in a decade, boosting Braun’s chances of winning the governor’s office in the fall.
Four of the last five Indiana lieutenant governors have been female. The fifth — Eric Holcomb — was the only one to become governor.
Indiana Democrats quickly pointed out that earlier this year McGuire carried a bill that would have canceled Indianapolis’ downtown economic enhancement district before it could even begin. She also supported the state’s near-total abortion ban.
“Mike Braun has proven throughout this campaign that he puts MAGA ahead of all of Indiana. The selection of Julie McGuire is just the latest example,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl.
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