Mike Pence is now the vice presidential nominee for the Republican Party. That became official this week. However, to accept this position, Governor Pence had to forgo his re-election campaign in Indiana. This has created last minute upheaval in the Hoosier state.
Before Pence’s switch to the Presidential ticket, he was set for a rematch with the former speaker of the Indiana House, John Gregg. They faced off previously for the governor’s office in 2012 in one of the closest gubernatorial elections in 50 years, despite a clean victory for Mitt Romney on the same ballot.
There will be no statewide election to select the GOP nominee. The candidate will be chosen by the state party’s 22 member central committee on Tuesday, July 26.
After popular former governor Mitch Daniels ruled out a comeback, the race to become the gubernatorial nominee has come down to three: Rep. Todd Rokita, Rep. Susan Brooks, and Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb.
No one is sure who the nominee will be. Congressman Rokita did, however, release a poll showing him beating Gregg by double digits in an effort to prove his case as the strongest candidate.
There is reason for Republicans to be optimistic despite losing the power of incumbency and Democrat Gregg holding a $5.8 million campaign war chest... Roll Call still lists the race as “leans Republican” despite no GOP nominee being chosen yet. It is reasonable to assume polls will be even better for Republicans after a candidate is chosen.