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Indiana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2020

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Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: February 7, 2020
Primary: June 2, 2020
General: November 3, 2020
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Gov. Eric Holcomb (R)
Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch (R)
How to vote
Poll times: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Voting in Indiana
Race ratings
Cook Political Report: Solid Republican
Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe Republican
Inside Elections: Solid Republican
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2020
Impact of term limits in 2020
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2020
Indiana
executive elections
Governor

Lieutenant Governor
Attorney General

Incumbent Gov. Eric Holcomb (R) defeated Woody Myers (D) and Donald Rainwater (L) in the election for governor of Indiana on November 3, 2020.

The COVID-19 pandemic was a major issue in the race. Holcomb said he led a data-driven response, protected Indianans' health, and reopened responsibly. Myers emphasized his background as a doctor and a former state health commissioner. Rainwater criticized Holcomb over the state's mask mandate and restrictions on businesses and churches, saying they should never have been shut down.

Click here for more on candidates' backgrounds and key messages.

Indiana's 2020 gubernatorial and state legislative elections affected partisan control of redistricting following the 2020 census. In Indiana, the state legislature is responsible for drafting both congressional and state legislative district plans. District plans are subject to gubernatorial veto.

Indiana was one of 11 states that held an election for governor in 2020. At the time of the election, there were 24 Democratic governors and 26 Republican governors. In 2020, seven of the 26 states with a Republican governor held a gubernatorial election, while four of the 24 states with a Democratic governor held a gubernatorial election. Two of the 11 offices up for election were open, meaning that the incumbent governor was not seeking re-election. Click here for more information on other 2020 gubernatorial elections.

Election procedure changes in 2020

See also: Changes to election dates, procedures, and administration in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, 2020

Ballotpedia provided comprehensive coverage of how election dates and procedures changed in 2020. While the majority of changes occurred as a result of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, some changes occurred for other reasons.

Indiana did not modify any procedures for the November 3, 2020, general election.

For a full timeline about election modifications made in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, click here.

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Candidates and election results

Governor

General election

General election for Governor of Indiana

Incumbent Eric Holcomb defeated Woody Myers and Donald Rainwater in the general election for Governor of Indiana on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Eric Holcomb
Eric Holcomb (R)
 
56.5
 
1,706,724
Image of Woody Myers
Woody Myers (D)
 
32.1
 
968,092
Image of Donald Rainwater
Donald Rainwater (L)
 
11.4
 
345,567

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 3,020,383
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Governor of Indiana

Woody Myers advanced from the Democratic primary for Governor of Indiana on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Woody Myers
Woody Myers
 
100.0
 
408,230

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 408,230
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Governor of Indiana

Incumbent Eric Holcomb advanced from the Republican primary for Governor of Indiana on June 2, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Eric Holcomb
Eric Holcomb
 
100.0
 
524,496

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 524,496
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Governor of Indiana

Donald Rainwater advanced from the Libertarian convention for Governor of Indiana on March 7, 2020.

Candidate
✔
Image of Donald Rainwater
Donald Rainwater (L)

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Lieutenant governor

General election

General election for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana

Incumbent Suzanne Crouch defeated Linda Lawson and William Henry in the general election for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Suzanne Crouch
Suzanne Crouch (R)
 
59.0
 
1,706,727
Image of Linda Lawson
Linda Lawson (D)
 
33.5
 
968,094
Image of William Henry
William Henry (L) Candidate Connection
 
7.5
 
216,422

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 2,891,243
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic convention

Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana

Linda Lawson advanced from the Democratic convention for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana on June 13, 2020.

Candidate
✔
Image of Linda Lawson
Linda Lawson (D)

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican convention

Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana

Incumbent Suzanne Crouch advanced from the Republican convention for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana on July 9, 2020.

Candidate
✔
Image of Suzanne Crouch
Suzanne Crouch (R)

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana

William Henry advanced from the Libertarian convention for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana on March 7, 2020.

Candidate
✔
Image of William Henry
William Henry (L) Candidate Connection

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Candidate profiles

This section includes candidate profiles created in one of two ways. Either the candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey or Ballotpedia staff created a profile after identifying the candidate as noteworthy.[1] Ballotpedia staff compiled profiles based on campaign websites, advertisements, and public statements.


Eric Holcomb

Image of Eric Holcomb

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Republican Party

Incumbent: Yes

Political Office: 

Biography:  Holcomb received a degree in U.S. history from Hanover College. He served in the United States Navy. He was campaign manager and district director for U.S. Rep. John Hostettler (R). Holcomb was an advisor to Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) and Sen. Dan Coats (R). He was also chairman of the Indiana Republican Party.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Holcomb said the state had record job creation, record high wages, record low unemployment, and a budget surplus before the pandemic due to his and Republican state legislators' leadership.

Holcomb said he helped create one Indiana for all with improved internet access, higher teacher pay, workforce improvements, and safe communities. 

Holcomb said his response to the pandemic was data-driven. He said he protected Indianans' health and responsibly reopened the economy.

Show sources

Sources: Eric Holcomb's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 21, 2020; YouTube, "Eric Holcomb for Indiana, Videos," accessed October 21, 2020; IN.gov, "About Governor Eric J. Holcomb," accessed October 21, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Governor of Indiana in 2020.

Woody Myers

Image of Woody Myers

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Democratic Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Myers received an undergraduate degree and an M.B.A. from Stanford University and a medical degree from Harvard University. He was an emergency room physician. Myers served as state health commissioner under Govs. Evan Bayh (D) and Bob Orr (R). He also owned a business, was the chief medical officer at Wellpoint, Inc., and was chief health care officer for Ford Motor Company.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Myers said he would work for affordable healthcare, high-quality education, environmental protection, and good-paying jobs. He also said he would appoint incumbent Superintendent Jennifer McCormick (R) after the position transitioned from elected to appointed.

Myers referred to his medical background, saying he was uniquely qualified to improve healthcare in the state.

Myers said Holcomb hadn't taken the steps needed to get the state through the recession.  

Show sources

Sources: Woody Myers' 2020 campaign website, "Meet Woody," accessed October 21, 2020; YouTube, "2020 Indiana Gubernatorial Debate 1," October 20, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Governor of Indiana in 2020.

Donald Rainwater

Image of Donald Rainwater

WebsiteFacebookTwitterYouTube

Party: Libertarian Party

Incumbent: No

Political Office: None

Biography:  Rainwater served in the United States Navy. He worked as a manager of several small businesses, in software engineering, and in information technology management. He was certified as a project management professional. Rainwater was a Libertarian candidate for the Indiana House of Representatives in 2018 and for the Indiana State Senate in 2016.


Key Messages

The following key messages were curated by Ballotpedia staff. For more on how we identify key messages, click here.

Rainwater said he would reduce the size and scope of state government, reduce taxes and government spending, and secure individual freedoms.

Rainwater said businesses and churches should not have been shut down amid the COVID-19 pandemic and that the state should reopen fully. He criticized Holcomb's mask mandate.

Rainwater said he would eliminate the state individual income and personal property tax, pass constitutional carry, and legalize all forms of cannabis.

Show sources

Sources: Donald Rainwater's 2020 campaign website, "Home," accessed October 21, 2020; YouTube, "Rainwater for Indiana, Videos," accessed October 21, 2020

This information was current as of the candidate's run for Governor of Indiana in 2020.

Polls

See also: Ballotpedia's approach to covering polls
Indiana gubernatorial election, 2020: General election polls
Poll Date Republican Party Holcomb Democratic Party Myers Libertarian Party Rainwater Undecided/Other Margin of error Sample size Sponsor
Cygnal Oct. 21-23 47% 29% 15% 10% ± 4.0 600 Ready Education Network
SurveyUSA Oct. 8-13 55% 25% 10% 11% ± 5.2[2] 527 --


Campaign finance

Noteworthy endorsements

See also: Ballotpedia: Our approach to covering endorsements

This section lists noteworthy endorsements issued in this election, including those made by high-profile individuals and organizations, cross-party endorsements, and endorsements made by newspaper editorial boards. It also includes a bulleted list of links to official lists of endorsements for any candidates who published that information on their campaign websites. Please note that this list is not exhaustive. If you are aware of endorsements that should be included, please click here.

Click the links below to see endorsement lists published on candidate campaign websites, if available.

Noteworthy endorsements
Endorsement Holcomb (R) Myers (D) Rainwater (L)
Elected officials
Vice President/former Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R)[3] ✔
State Rep. Jim Lucas (R) ✔
Individuals
Democratic presidential nominee/former Vice President Joe Biden ✔

Timeline

2020


Campaign advertisements

This section shows advertisements released in this race. Ads released by campaigns and, if applicable, satellite groups are embedded or linked below. If you are aware of advertisements that should be included, please email us.

Republican Party Eric Holcomb

"Together" - Holcomb campaign ad, released October 28, 2020
"Momentum" - Holcomb campaign ad, released October 12, 2020
"Ready" - Holcomb campaign ad, released September 28, 2020
"We Can Do It Again" - Holcomb campaign ad, released September 25, 2020
"Digital Divide" - Holcomb campaign ad, released September 7, 2020
"Different Kind of Campaign" - Holcomb campaign ad, released August 24, 2020
"Proud to Be a Hoosier" - Holcomb campaign ad, released August 3, 2020


Democratic Party Woody Myers

"Myers/Lawson for Indiana" - Indiana Democratic Party/Myers campaign ad, released October 30, 2020
"Dr. Woody Myers WILL FIGHT FOR YOU" - Myers campaign ad, released September 18, 2020
"MYERS LAWSON ON INEQUALITIES" - Myers campaign ad, released September 18, 2020


Libertarian Party Donald Rainwater

"Donald Rainwater for Indiana (Commercial, Updated)" - Rainwater campaign ad, released October 21, 2020
"Donald Rainwater Radio Spot - Medical Cannabis" - Rainwater campaign ad, released October 8, 2020
"Hoosier Testimonials for Donald Rainwater" - Rainwater campaign ad, released October 7, 2020
"Small business owners, Matt and Adia Yergler, explain why they endorse Donald Rainwater for Governor" - Rainwater campaign ad, released October 7, 2020
"Donald Rainwater for Indiana (Commercial)" - Rainwater campaign ad, released October 1, 2020
"A Message From Donald Rainwater" - Rainwater campaign ad, released August 16, 2020
"A Video Message From Donald Rainwater" - Rainwater campaign ad, released May 29, 2020


Debates and forums

October 27, 2020

The Indiana Debate Commission hosted a debate. View the video here.

October 20, 2020

The Indiana Debate Commission hosted a debate. View the video here.

Campaign themes

See also: Campaign themes

Republican Party Eric Holcomb

Holcomb’s campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Leading Through the Pandemic
As Hoosiers, we’ve come together through this pandemic like never before – helping our neighbors and our communities. Governor Holcomb has taken a steady, data-driven approach as he continues to lead Indiana through these challenging times – and every step of the way, his priority remains the health of Hoosiers, while working to safely restart Indiana’s economic engines.
Through his leadership, more than 200 COVID-19 testing sites have launched statewide, millions of pieces of PPE have been procured, and healthcare capacity remains strong. And through Governor Holcomb’s Back on Track plan, we’re following a phased, systematic, data-driven plan for reopening Indiana.
  • Lowering Indiana's Infant Mortality Rate
Early in his time as our state’s leader, Governor Holcomb set a big priority – making Indiana home to the lowest infant mortality rate in the Midwest by 2024. That’s because he believes in looking out for the most vulnerable Hoosiers among us.
He took action, signing into law Indiana’s perinatal navigator program that connects pregnant women in Indiana’s highest-risk ZIP codes with wraparound health services –making sure all Hoosier kids have a right to life, no matter where they’re born.
And while we still have a lot of work to do, we’re making progress. In 2019, Indiana saw its largest drop in infant mortality in six years.
  • Indiana: The Fiscal Envy of the Nation
Balancing budgets. Paying bills. Living within our means. That’s the motto of working Hoosier families, and it’s Governor Holcomb’s charge in leading our state. Under his leadership, Indiana is maintaining its AAA credit rating (the best in the nation!), and our healthy rainy day fund is keeping Indiana in the black during this pandemic while we maintain essential services.
And, of course, that’s while taxes in Indiana continue to drop! Indiana’s personal income tax rate dropped to 3.23% in 2017, which is among the lowest in the nation. That’s while taxes for businesses continue to go down, and Indiana enjoys the benefits of permanently capped property taxes and no inventory tax. It’s an environment built for growth and opportunity!
  • Attracting Record Job Commitments
Indiana has built the Midwest’s best climate for business. And when it comes to attracting great new jobs, Indiana is continuing to break records. Since 2017, companies have committed to create more than 100,000 new Hoosiers jobs across Indiana in high-growth industries like advanced manufacturing, agribusiness, logistics, life sciences, defense, technology, and more.
In 2019, the average wage for those job commitments was $28.60/hour!
Whether it’s new jobs created at homegrown small businesses or international companies choosing Indiana for their next big investment, Indiana is on the map!
  • Supporting Indiana Schools
For Governor Holcomb, making sure that every Hoosier student has a safe place to learn and grow is a top priority – whether that’s safety from COVID-19, or other threats.
That’s why since 2017, Indiana has made over $1.6 billion in NEW investments in Indiana education – and next year, that commitment will continue with a scheduled increase of $183 million in 2021.
Schools across the state have been provided with reopening guidance – as well as necessary tools today like masks, hand sanitizer, and grants to support remote learning.
But it’s not just invisible threats. Other new resources include a program that’s now placed more than 3,200 handheld metal detectors in Indiana public, charter, and private schools at no cost to them. They’ve gone to more than 370 schools – including 94% of all traditional Indiana public schools – to help them track what’s coming into school buildings.
In addition, schools have expanded access to school safety grants and access to a $35 million low-interest loan program for making school updates. And Indiana isn’t stopping until all schools have the tools they need – it simply cannot wait.
  • Making Record Road Investments
Indiana is home to one of the nation’s only fully-funded infrastructure plans of its kind – Next Level Roads. Without borrowing money from future generations of Hoosiers, Indiana is investing $32 billion into our state’s roads and bridges over the next 20 years. In the first five years alone, Hoosiers can expect to see 122 new lane miles, 1,300 bridges, and 10,000 miles of re-paved roads. That’s rolling in the right direction!
  • Expanding Rural Broadband
Now more than ever, it’s critical that ALL Hoosiers have access to reliable, high-speed internet service – whether that’s for health care, education, commerce or more. That’s why Governor Holcomb is leading Indiana’s largest single state investment in broadband in our state’s history – Next Level Connections – with multiple grant rounds totaling $100 million!
Millions of dollars in grants have already been awarded for projects spanning 18 counties – and more to come soon to bring broadband access to rural Indiana.
  • Skilling Up Hoosiers
Across Indiana, companies are looking to hire hardworking Hoosiers to fill great jobs – jobs in high-demand industries like manufacturing, life sciences, technology, and logistics.
Through Governor Holcomb’s Next Level Jobs plan, more than 10,000 Hoosiers have built the skills needed to fill these in-demand, high-wage jobs – helping them earn larger paychecks and open new doors of opportunity.
Next Level Jobs provides Hoosiers with free classes and access to certificate programs through partners like Ivy Tech Community College and Vincennes University. There, Hoosiers are gaining the in-demand skills needed to begin their next big job!
And as we continue to get Back on Track this year, Next Level Jobs is expanded its eligibility, offerings and funding caps – providing Hoosiers with even greater opportunity to build a brighter future.
Next Level Jobs also helps Hoosiers already on-the-job by providing employers with grants to skill-up their workforce! To learn more about Next Level Jobs, visit https://www.nextleveljobs.org/.
  • Helping Hoosiers with Recovery
When it comes to attacking the state’s opioid epidemic, Governor Holcomb has made an all-hands-on-deck call. We’ve made progress, with a 13% decline in overdose deaths – but Hoosiers across the state are still struggling with addiction.
Together, we’re working to help Hoosiers achieve and maintain recovery – bettering our communities, economy, public safety, and quality of life for all Hoosiers. And we’re making progress with a focus on prevention, treatment, and enforcement, which includes:
• Providing communities with training and funding for naloxone, which is saving lives by reversing overdoses.
• Expanding drug take-back programs – reducing the number of drugs available for misuse.
• Increasing the number of opioid treatment sites statewide – placing nearly all Hoosiers within one-hour’s drive of help.
• Strengthening felony charges for individuals whose dealing of illicit drugs leads to the death of a fellow Hoosier.
  • Connecting Indiana to the World
Connecting Hoosiers with the world around us doesn’t stop with roads and bridges. That’s why Governor Holcomb announced plans to invest $1 billion into Indiana infrastructure! This includes:
  • $600 million to accelerate the completion of I-69 to 2024
  • $190 million for improvements along U.S. 20 and U.S. 30 in Northern Indiana
  • New interchanges to speed up the trip between South Bend and Indianapolis on U.S. 31
  • $100 million to bring high-speed, affordable broadband to rural Indiana
  • $90 million to expand connectivity of Indiana’s hiking, biking, and riding trails
  • $20 million to attract additional international non-stop flights to Indiana
And that’s in addition to Indiana’s fully-funded roads and bridges program over the next 20 years, Next Level Roads. Indiana sped up road construction earlier this year statewide – and we’re not slowing down now.
  • Completing I-69
For more than a decade, Indiana has been building I-69 – one continuous road connecting Evansville to Indianapolis and the rest of the state. I-69 is now complete between Evansville and Martinsville.
And construction of the final section is now underway, which is upgrading State Road 37 to interstate standard all the way to I-465. Through Next Level Connections, Indiana will invest $600 million to accelerate the completion of I-69 by three years…connecting Evansville and Indianapolis by 2024.[4]
 ”
—Eric Holcomb’s campaign website (2020)[5]


Democratic Party Woody Myers

Myers' campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Health Care
Increasing health care costs are a drag on Indiana’s economy and put a strain on household budgets. While costs are rising nationally, Indiana residents are spending a greater share of their paychecks on health care than residents in other states. More Hoosiers are uninsured even though more are employed, and more Hoosiers are going without their medications because they can’t afford them. This is wrong.
It’s time we fix these problems in Indiana.
We can address our high rate of chronic disease through less costly measures focused on prevention. We can reduce maternal and infant mortality through better education and access to health care. And we can keep the public safe and healthy during a public health crisis, with better management and planning.
Indiana needs a governor who understands the health care industry the way I do and who will be an advocate for all Hoosiers. As governor, I’ll put the health care needs of Hoosiers first and make fixing our broken health care system the priority that it should be.
Now is the time to put a doctor in the Governor’s Office.
Hear Woody speak more on this issue: https://youtu.be/2MlAt0oFsrg
  • Education
Education is the best investment we can make to develop a workforce that’s prepared to fill good-paying jobs now and in the future. Governor Holcomb and Republican lawmakers have underfunded public education for years and use bogus statistics to claim otherwise. Indiana spends less per student than almost every other state. This is not only bad for our children, but is also bad for our economic future.
Our students and teachers deserve better.
We can empower our public schools by giving them the resources and funding needed to provide a high-quality education to all students. We can take a hard look at our voucher program; while school choice has a place in our education system, the current program is not serving us well. It has created more demand for limited resources, reducing the funding available for classroom instruction and teacher salaries in public schools. We should make transparency and accountability of taxpayer spending in education a priority to restore public confidence and improve academic results.
We owe our students a high-quality education. As governor, I’ll restore public confidence in our education system by providing the funding necessary for our students to succeed and our teachers to thrive.
  • Climate
We must reduce the effects of climate change on our residents and businesses. As a manufacturing-rich state, we use a lot of energy – most of it supplied by fossil fuels. Our state has a reputation as a big polluter and that needs to change. We cannot continue to destroy our environment or prop up dying industries because we’re afraid of change. We can protect our environment by transitioning our workforce away from fossil fuels to good-paying jobs in renewable and sustainable energy sources.
Indiana must become more energy efficient and shift to more renewable energy to meet our electricity needs and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As governor, I’ll update Indiana’s renewable energy standards and set a new clean energy goal to renew our commitment to a cleaner future. I’ll inventory our greenhouse gas emissions and develop realistic reduction targets just as 22 other states have done.
Through investments to incentivize innovation in the clean energy industry, we can create economic opportunity and more good-paying jobs, as we tackle the climate crisis and safeguard our environment for future generations.
More about climate: https://youtu.be/rRXK89tv64A
  • Economic Development
A strong economy should benefit all Hoosiers, not just those at the top. While Indiana’s economy is growing and more people are working, not everyone is prospering. Some Hoosiers must work two or three jobs to make ends meet when one job should be enough. In certain parts of the state, workers are trapped in low-paying jobs because there aren’t enough high-paying jobs available in their communities. In other parts, we have job openings that go vacant, because there aren’t enough skilled workers to fill them.
Indiana used to lead the Midwest in economic performance, and now we rank in the bottom half of states for economic stability and potential.
We can do better.
As governor, I’ll immediately work to diversify our economy so we’re less susceptible to economic downturns and labor force disruptions. I’ll implement policies to improve our business environment, with a focus on recruiting businesses that bring more good-paying jobs to all parts of the state and supporting existing businesses with retention policies that help them remain competitive. I’ll be the governor who breaks down social, cultural and financial barriers that hold people back from success to give everyone a chance to prosper. It’s time we had an economy that works for all of us.
  • Workforce
The strength of our economy rests on the quality of our workforce. Indiana currently ranks among the 10 worst states in educational attainment and lacks the appropriate policies to support learners who haven’t fared well in college.
Our diverse population demands multiple pathways to obtain good-paying jobs whether through a college degree, a certificate, apprenticeship, or vocational training. Already too many have fallen short of their educational and vocational goals, contributing to Indiana’s talent shortage. We aren’t prepared to withstand the pressures of automation and its squeeze on jobs that’s predicted for the future, with too many workers in dead end jobs vulnerable to loss.
We can immediately expand and refocus our workforce development system on training workers for jobs of the future, not just on jobs for today. As governor, I’ll devise a new approach to education and workforce training that will equip workers with the right skills to adapt to changing workplace conditions, while also encouraging upward mobility. I’ll also shore up the cracks in our workforce development and higher education systems, enabling Indiana to upgrade and enhance the skills of its workforce to be competitive again.[4]
 ”
—Woody Myers' campaign website (2020)[6]


Libertarian Party Donald Rainwater

Rainwater’s campaign website stated the following:

“
  • Taxation - Taxpayer Protection Pledge
As your Governor, I pledge to oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes in Indiana.
This is consistent with the Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) Taxpayer Protection Pledge. You can learn more about Americans for Tax Reform at www.atr.org.
  • Taxation - Personal Income Tax
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to abolish the personal income tax in Indiana.
Nine states do not tax personal income: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
  • Taxation - Residential Property Tax
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to abolish the residential property tax on primary residences in Indiana.
This will eliminate the possibility of asset forfeiture, due to unpaid property taxes. It will also eliminate the annual increases in Hoosiers' mortgage payments, due to annual increases in assessed value for property tax assessment.
  • Taxation - Vehicle Excise and Registration
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to reform vehicle registration to be required only when transfer of ownership occurs. You will register the vehicle one time, when you purchase the vehicle or otherwise transfer title.
This will eliminate the annual ritual of renewing your vehicle registration and paying the registration fees and excise taxes.
  • Taxation - Roll Back Gasoline Excise Tax
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to roll back the 2017 legislation which now puts our gasoline excise tax at 30 cents per gallon. I believe that the indexing of the gasoline excise tax for inflation is contrary to the spirit of "no taxation without representation" and needs to be repealed as part of this roll back.
  • Individual Rights - Property Ownership
As your Governor, I will make the abolition of asset forfeiture in Indiana a priority. This will include criminal justice reform and property tax reform.
The government should not be able to take your property involuntarily, for any reason.
  • Individual Rights - Decriminalization and Legalization of Cannabis (Marijuana)
As your Governor, I will work with members of the Indiana General Assembly to decriminalize both medical and recreational cannabis.
Military veterans and others who suffer from psychological, emotional, and physical pain should not be denied a proven, viable alternative to highly-addictive narcotics. Medicinal cannabis has been proven to effectively aid cancer patients in managing the many side effects of chemotherapy and other treatments.
Anyone who has been convicted of a marijuana-related, non-violent drug offense should have their sentence commuted immediately and their conviction should be expunged.
If beer, wine, and liquor are legal for adult recreational consumption, so should all forms of cannabis.
  • Individual Rights - Constitutional Carry
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to pass Constitutional Carry legislation in Indiana.
The right to bear arms shall not be infringed.
www.the2aproject.com
  • Individual Rights - Medical Freedoms
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to ensure that Hoosier's medical freedoms are safeguarded and that individuals can make their own choices regarding medical treatments and health coverage. Hoosiers should not be forced by government mandate to purchase health insurance. Hoosiers should not be forced by government mandate to get a vaccine. Hoosiers should not be forced by government mandate to wear a mask.
I will also work to strengthen Hoosier's legal protections associated with living wills and medical power of attorney.
Hoosiers must be allowed to make their own health care decisions and the health care decisions for their minor children.
  • Individual Rights - Adulthood
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to enact legislation that establishes the age of adulthood in Indiana at 18 years old.
As part of this legislation, we will establish a standard that resets the statutory age for purchase or consumption of alcohol and nicotine, as well as any other current or future minimum age requirement intended to imply an adult decision.
If a person is old enough to make the decision to serve in the United States military, then they are old enough to make all of the decisions pertaining to their health and wellness.
  • Individual Rights - Occupational Licensing
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to bring about significant reform in the area of professional and occupational licensing.
Hoosiers cannot pursue their own occupational Happiness when government regulations for occupational licensing create artificial barriers to entry into a career field by requiring expensive educational requirements and licensing fees.
While I agree that doctors and lawyers are occupations which may lend themselves to very stringent licensing requirements, I also strongly believe that hairdressers, plumbers, electricians, auctioneers, real estate agents, and many others could and should be "licensed" or "certified" by their respective professional associations. I also believe that many of these occupations would be candidates for on-the-job training programs or high school programs.
  • Individual Rights - Abortion
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, I personally identify as a Pro-life Libertarian. I have come to believe that abortion violates the Non-Aggression Principle (NAP), which is one of the cornerstones of Libertarianism.
I believe that abortion does not violate the Non-Aggression Principle in emergency situations where the mother's life is in jeopardy or when the mother has been sexually assaulted.
I do not believe that government should use tax dollars to fund any private organization.
  • Education Reform - Maximize School Choice
As Governor of the State of Indiana, I will work with members of the Indiana General Assembly to maximize parent's ability to choose the school option which is best for their child. I will work to ensure that Hoosier parents have school choice options, such as public school, private school, online school, charter school, and homeschool.
I will work to ensure that education funding is available for every child whose parents want it, regardless of their school choice, no strings attached. If parents wish to opt out of school funding, they will be able to do so, again, no strings attached.
  • Education Reform - ILEARN
As Governor of Indiana, I will support the decoupling of ILEARN scores from teacher performance evaluations. I wouldn't stop there. I would ask the General Assembly to pass legislation to abolish statewide standardized testing. I would seek legal council to determine if the state can cancel the current 3 year, $45 million contract.
Both ISTEP and ILEARN have been a boondoggle that has detracted from our children's educational experience at the cost of the Hoosier taxpayer.
  • Education Reform - Vocational Education
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly and the State Department of Education to simplify our state's high school graduation requirements in order to encourage the redevelopment of high school vocational education programs.
In Indiana, we do not need to enhance post-secondary vocational education opportunities in Indiana. We need to reestablish vocational educational opportunities in our K-12 public schools.
Too many of our Hoosier young people leave high school without any exposure to the hundreds of career-oriented vocational opportunities which are available and may be more desirable to them.
Let's provide vocational and technical educational opportunities to our young people while they are in high school BEFORE they lose hope and turn to criminal activity, not after they become incarcerated.
  • Education Reform - Localize Education Control
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to reduce the size and scope of the State Department of Education.
We will work together with the State Department of Education to return the decision-making power to our local School Boards and School District administrators.
By reducing the size and scope of the State Department of Education, we will free up funding which can be redirected to our classrooms, instead of being spent on multiple levels of oversight. This will create a better situation for both our teachers and our students in Indiana's public schools.
  • Ballot Initiatives, Referendums, and Recalls
As your Governor, I will work with members of the General Assembly to enact legislation establishing ballot initiatives, referendums, and recalls in the State of Indiana. These three processes will go a long way toward reaffirming government in Indiana Of The People, By The People, and For The People.
For more information about ballot initiatives, referendums, and recalls, visit the National Conference of State Legislatures at www.ncsl.org.
  • The 10th Amendment
As your Governor, I will do everything within the purview of my office to ensure that the State of Indiana upholds the 10th Amendment to the US Constitution.
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."[4]
 ”
—Donald Rainwater's campaign website (2020)[7]


Ballot access requirements

The table below details filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates in Indiana in the 2020 election cycle. For additional information on candidate ballot access requirements in Indiana, click here.

Filing requirements for gubernatorial candidates, 2020
State Office Party Signatures required Signature formula Filing fee Filing fee formula Filing deadline Source
Indiana Governor Democratic and Republican 4,500 Fixed number N/A N/A 2/7/2020 Source
Indiana Governor Unaffiliated 44,935 2% of votes cast for secretary of state in the last election N/A N/A 7/15/2020 Source

Past elections

Indiana state government organizational chart

See also: Indiana gubernatorial election, 2016

Indiana elects governors in the presidential elections, that is, in leap years. For Indiana, 2016, 2020, 2024 and 2028 are all gubernatorial election years. Legally, the gubernatorial inauguration is always set for the second Monday in the January following an election (§ 9).

If two candidates are tied, a joint session of the General Assembly shall cast ballots to determine the winner, pursuant to Article 5, Section 5.

2016

See also: Indiana gubernatorial election, 2016

General election

Eric Holcomb and Suzanne Crouch defeated John Gregg and Christina Hale, Rex Bell and Karl Tatgenhorst, Christopher Stried, and Adam Adkins in the Indiana governor election.

Indiana Governor, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Eric Holcomb and Suzanne Crouch 51.4% 1,396,460
     Democratic John Gregg and Christina Hale 45.4% 1,234,546
     Libertarian Rex Bell and Karl Tatgenhorst 3.2% 86,964
     Independent Adam Adkins 0.00% 14
     Independent Christopher Stried 0.00% 8
Total Votes 2,717,992
Source: Indiana Election Division

Primary election

Democratic primary election

Indiana Governor Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png John Gregg  (unopposed) 100.00% 547,375
Total Votes 547,375
Source: Indiana Secretary of State,

Republican primary election

Indiana Governor Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Mike Pence Incumbent (unopposed) 100.00% 815,699
Total Votes 815,699
Source: Indiana Secretary of State

2012

See also: Indiana gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2012

On November 6, 2012, Mike Pence and Sue Ellspermann won election as Governor and lieutenant governor of Indiana. They defeated the Gregg/Simpson (D), Boneham/Klopfenstein (L) and Harris/Fish (I) ticket(s) in the general election.

Governor and lieutenant governor of Indiana, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngMike Pence & Sue Ellspermann 49.5% 1,275,424
     Democratic John Gregg & Vi Simpson 46.6% 1,200,016
     Libertarian Rupert Boneham & Brad Klopfenstein 4% 101,868
     Independent Donnie Harold Harris & George Fish 0% 21
Total Votes 2,577,329
Election Results Via: via Indiana Secretary of State

About the offices

Governor

Main article: Governor of Indiana

The governor of the State of Indiana is an elected constitutional officer, the head of the executive branch and the highest state office in Indiana. The governor is popularly elected every four years by a plurality and is limited to two consecutive terms with at least a four-year span before the same individual may hold the office again. The 51st and current governor of Indiana is Republican Eric Holcomb. Holcomb was first elected in 2016.

Prior to the November 2016 general elections, Indiana was one of 23 Republican state government trifectas. As a result of the elections, Indiana was one of 25 Republican state government trifectas in the 2017 state legislative sessions.

See also: Indiana General Assembly, Indiana House of Representatives, Indiana State Senate

Pivot Counties

See also: Pivot Counties by state

Five of 92 Indiana counties—5 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
Delaware County, Indiana 13.43% 3.12% 14.98%
LaPorte County, Indiana 6.33% 12.57% 22.04%
Perry County, Indiana 18.55% 11.59% 22.84%
Porter County, Indiana 6.59% 3.90% 7.20%
Vigo County, Indiana 14.97% 0.86% 15.83%

In the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump (R) won Indiana with 56.9 percent of the vote. Hillary Clinton (D) received 37.8 percent. Indiana Gov. Mike Pence (R) was Trump's running mate. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Indiana voted Republican 83.33 percent of the time and Democratic 16.67 percent of the time. In the five presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Indiana voted Republican four times and Democratic once when it voted for Barack Obama in 2008.

Presidential results by legislative district

The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Indiana. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[8][9]

In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 28 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 32.8 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 25 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 32.9 points. Clinton won one district controlled by a Republican heading into the 2018 elections.
In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 72 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 25.3 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 75 out of 100 state House districts in Indiana with an average margin of victory of 34.3 points. Trump won six districts controlled by Democrats heading into the 2018 elections.


Voter guides

2020 State Cannabis Voter Guides

See also

Indiana government:

Previous elections:

Ballotpedia exclusives:

External links

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Candidate Connection surveys completed before September 26, 2019, were not used to generate candidate profiles. In battleground primaries, Ballotpedia based its selection of noteworthy candidates on polling, fundraising, and noteworthy endorsements. In battleground general elections, all major party candidates and any other candidates with the potential to impact the outcome of the race were included.
  2. ↑ This poll used a credibility interval instead of a margin of error.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Greater Fort Wayne Business Weekly, "Vice President Mike Pence stumps for Gov. Eric Holcomb, Rep. Jim Banks in Fort Wayne visit," October 22, 2020
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  5. ↑ Eric Holcomb’s 2020 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 23, 2020
  6. ↑ Woody Myers' 2020 campaign website, “Woody's Priorities for Indiana,” accessed October 23, 2020
  7. ↑ Donald Rainwater's 2020 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed October 23, 2020
  8. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
  9. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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