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Brad Chambers, the former Indiana secretary of commerce who entered the governor’s race last month, is kickstarting his campaign with $5 million of his own money, according to campaign finance reports.
The donation, the largest-single financial contribution made by any candidate in the race, ensures that Chambers can remain competitive after a late entry into a crowded field of GOP candidates vying to replace term-limited Gov. Eric Holcomb in 2024.
Chambers, founder and president of longtime Indianapolis-based real estate development firm Buckingham Cos., is expected to receive strong support from the business community, but his lack of statewide name recognition will require him to mount an aggressive campaign to set himself apart from several well-funded competitors.
They include U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, who has $4.6 million cash on hand; Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who reported $3.8 million cash on hand at the midyear mark; and Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, who declared $3.7 million cash on hand. Former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill and long-shot candidate Jamie Reitenour are also seeking the GOP nomination.
Jennifer McCormick, the former Republican superintendent of public instruction who is running for governor as a Democrat, has more than $200,000 cash on hand.
In the coming weeks, Chambers plans to travel across the state and roll out specific policy proposals focused on “kitchen table issues” such as inflation, cost of living and growing the state’s economy. His campaign is also prepared to make heavy investments in marketing and advertising in print, television, radio, social media and digital ads campaigns.
He’s also surrounding himself with veteran strategists in Republican politics. Matt Huckleby, former executive director of the Indiana GOP, is his campaign manager, while Marty Obst, a longtime adviser to former Vice President Mike Pence, is a senior strategist. Kyle Hupfer, who recently stepped down as chair of the Indiana Republican Party, will serve as campaign chair, and Jennifer Hallowell, president of Indianapolis-based Hallowell Consulting, will serve as senior communications advisor.
Chambers, 59, founded his real estate firm in 1984 while a student at Indiana University. In 2021, Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed Chambers to commerce secretary and CEO of the Indiana Economic Development Corp., the state’s public-private economic development agency.
While in office, Chambers reduced his day-to-day involvement at Buckingham, which was ineligible for state incentives during his two-year contract. He also declined to take a public salary.
During his two-year tenure, the IEDC secured more than $30 billion in committed capital expenditures from businesses looking to expand or move their operations to the Hoosier State. He also pioneered the LEAP Innovation District, a planned 10,000-acre technology and manufacturing hub near Lebanon that could serve as the blueprint for additional commercial and industrial parks across the state. LEAP is an acronym for “Limitless Exploration/Advanced Pace.”
Here are Chambers’ biggest campaign contributors so far:
- Doug Rose, president of Indianapolis-based real estate developer Irwin R. Rose & Co. and a longtime Republican donor, donated $125,000 to Chambers’ campaign.
- Auto dealer Andy Mohr, whose company has 12 dealerships and four collision centers, contributed $100,000.
- Michael Petrie, CEO of Merchants Bank of Indiana, gave $100,000.
- Chris Reid, CEO of Carmel-based construction company CRG Residential, donated $100,000.
- Jeff Hagerman, chair of Fishers-based construction firm Hagerman Group, contributed $10,000.
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Winning campaigns is not rocket science. It’s all about fundamentals. It is not how much money you raise and spend, it is how you spend the money you raise. The name of the game is targeting your message to the 51% of the voters who can put you over the top (it’s called “going duck hunting where the ducks are”). Emphasize no more than three big issues, and talk about the problem, the solution, and how the target audience will benefit (hint: you’re not doing this to make Indiana better, you’re doing this to make the lives of people who live in Indiana better). Don’t get entangled with the opponents’ tactics or traps. Stick to your strategy and don’t divert from it.
Some heavy hitting donors for a guy with NO real political experience. Buying an office remains in vogue!
At least Braun has 6 years as a US senator experience, and also started out his campaign finances with just his own money.
Relevance of Braun’s 4.5 years US Senate experience to Indiana Governor’s office = near zero. Chambers’ two years of high-level executive experience in State government is worth more. Plus, Chambers is not shouting “Trump!” at every turn.
ANYONE but Braun (aka little trump).
Right
Apparently Holcomb doesn’t like Braun & Crouch. Chambers is very politically tied & has made millions off of politicians especially Jim Brainard in Carmel. I had a run in with Chambers about 14 years ago and he acted like I shouldn’t be questioning him. There is way too much money being spent on this race. Power and/or other benefits of the job definitely rule.
Braun and Crouch are insane. So is Doden, but he hides it better (when he’s not hiding in Michigan).
“At Buckingham, we aim to fully integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices that are aligned with our business strategy and stakeholder interests to help build better outcomes for our clients.” Sweet, he’s so conservative!
Definitely the best R candidate, although the Andy Mohr donation is troubling.
If you want to hold the rubes in our legislature in check, vote McCormick. She’s our only possibility for stopping the gerrymandered hacks from further ruining our state.