Gov. Mike Braun just issued a slew of endorsements in Indiana Statehouse primary races, including a number of challengers to state Senate incumbents who voted against President Donald Trump’s redistricting push last year.
In the 29 endorsements he posted to his campaign X account, he also picked sides in a few competitive races for open Senate seats, and he lent endorsements to all the Republican House incumbents who have challengers in the May 5 primary. The remaining House districts are either races where the incumbent is running unopposed, or where there’s an open seat with no incumbent.
It’s an unusual level of involvement in Statehouse GOP primary races for a sitting Indiana governor.
Previous reporting suggests money may follow: Politico reported that the HOPE organization founded to support Braun’s agenda plans to invest $500,000 in this primary election.
But unlike Trump’s endorsement announcements, Braun’s don’t mention redistricting. In fact, three of the endorsed House incumbents ― Reps. Peggy Mayfield of Martinsville, Greg Steuerwald of Avon, and Jennifer Meltzer of Shelbyville ― voted against redistricting.
Instead, Braun in these endorsements said these candidates would help him cut property taxes and improve affordability for Hoosier families.
Braun endorsed the following challengers to Senate incumbents who voted against redistricting:
In open Senate seats, here is who Braun endorsed:
And he’s endorsing the following Senate incumbents, all of whom voted for redistricting:
The list of House endorsements are:
Contact Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X @kayla_dwyer17.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Gov. Braun endorses challengers to Indiana senators in GOP primary after redistricting fight
Reporting by Kayla Dwyer, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
