Gregg tells Democratic faithful Pence ‘has had his chance’

Democratic gubernatorial nominee John Gregg told party faithful at their state convention that Republican Gov. Mike Pence has had his chance and Indiana "cannot stand" to have him as governor for four more years.

The former House Speaker made the remarks in Indianapolis Saturday before about 2,000 delegates who attended the Democratic Party's state convention.

Gregg is facing an expected fierce rematch against Pence, who narrowly beat him in 2012.

"He's had his chance. We cannot stand him for four more years," Gregg said.

Pence signed a religious objections law in March 2015 that critics argued would allow businesses to discriminate against gays and lesbians for religious reasons.

Lawmakers later tweaked that law after groups threatened to boycott the state.

During Saturday's convention, delegates formally nominated state Rep. Christina Hale for lieutenant governor, incumbent Glenda Ritz for superintendent of public instruction and former Lake County judge Lorenzo Arredondo for attorney general.

Hale referred to the religious objections law in her speech, telling the delegates Pence has a "compulsion to tell people who to love, what to do with their bodies and where to go to the bathroom."

Gregg, who is from southwestern Indiana, announced last month that he had selected Hale, an Indianapolis lawmaker, as his running mate.

Since 2004, both Republicans and Democrats have included male and female candidates together on their gubernatorial tickets.

But Pence bucked that trend in March when he appointed Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb to finish the term of Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann, his 2012 running mate. She resigned earlier this year to pursue the presidency of Ivy Tech Community College.

The college's trustees chose her for that post on May 18.

Former U.S. Rep. Baron Hill, the party's candidate for U.S. Senate also addresses Saturday's convention, among others.

The Indiana Republican Party held their state convention earlier this month.