Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun faces a “serious threat” to his candidacy after Noblesville pastor Micah Beckwith was selected as his running mate, according to an internal campaign memo penned by prominent conservative attorney Jim Bopp.
The five-page report, obtained by the Indiana Capital Chronicle Sunday evening, outlines “several negative effects” of Beckwith’s nomination, including concerns that Beckwith will cause “division and chaos” and “undermine” Braun’s leadership.
Chief among Bopp’s worries, however, is the possibility that Beckwith could keep Braun out of the Indiana Statehouse altogether.
“Beckwith’s nomination as Lt. Gov poses a serious threat to the Braun candidacy, election and administration,” Bopp wrote, later saying in the memo that “the Democrats have a real opportunity to launch a serious campaign in the fall because of Beckwith’s nomination, and it has already begun.”
Bopp said the Democrats’ campaign “would focus almost exclusively” on Beckwith and his “radical” views. He pointed specifically to a video Beckwith made after the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, in which he said the assault was “divinely inspired.”
Bopp predicted “tens of millions would be spent” on “endless ads quoting and featuring” the radical pastor’s statements on that issue and others, forcing Braun to begrudgingly support or distance himself from Beckwith—either of which could sacrifice votes.
“Braun will be asked, and held in account, for every statement Beckwith has ever made. So how does Braun respond? If he is viewed to be repudiating Beckwith or even distancing himself from him, he loses support from hardcore Beckwith supporters and if he embassies Beckwith, he feeds into the Democrat campaign,” Bopp wrote. “And since Beckwith wins if Braun wins, how can Braun really separate himself from Beckwith if he tried? And does saying ‘I am in charge’ really work when the convention has just nominated Beckwith to hold Braun in account(?) (A)nd it is obvious that Beckwith has no interest in following Braun’s lead if he does not want to.”
“By running against Beckwith, the Democrats will be able to (raise) unlimited funds from their left wing allies and billionaire liberal supporters,” Bopp continued. “In taking down Beckwith, they take down Braun. And they will paint the whole ticket, including Todd (Rokita), with this brush.”
When asked about the memo, Bopp said in a statement to the Capital Chronicle that, “I do not discuss confidential communications with others. And I think it was despicable that someone leaked it.”
Josh Kelley, a senior adviser to Braun, separately told the Capital Chronicle that Bopp’s memo “represented his personal views, and there was no way that he implied otherwise.”
“Mike Braun is excited to lead the Indiana Republican Party with Micah Beckwith to historic victories in November,” Kelley said in a statement. “Braun remains focused on enacting a bold conservative agenda as governor and is excited to have Micah Beckwith as his partner to get the job done.”
A ‘serious threat’
Indiana’s GOP delegates narrowly named Beckwith as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor in a shocking vote at the party’s convention Saturday, rebuffing first-term Rep. Julie McGuire—Braun’s handpicked choice for the role—who had received a last-minute endorsement from former President Donald Trump.
Beckwith ran an unorthodox solo campaign for the No. 2 spot, publicly pitching himself as both the prospective governor’s cheerleader and a check on his power.
Bopp noted he ran a campaign to the right of Braun, and that his agenda to “hold the Republican Establishment in account” includes Braun, “most particularly.”
“He will do so with the bully pulpit of Lt. Gov. and endorsement of the Indiana Republican Party at our convention. He has been very active in public speaking over the years, expressing his views on numerous subject(s), and has explicitly run as a Pastor and Christian who will bring that to state government,” Bopp said. “Since both Braun and Beckwith are voted on together as a team, this poses special challenges to the Braun campaign.”
Beckwith is the pastor at Life Church’s Noblesville campus and co-hosts a podcast called “Jesus, Sex and Politics” with another pastor. He also operates a small business—a music school—and remains involved in his family’s dairy company.
He has additionally spent about five years doing policy work with the Indiana Family Institute and was prominent in a Hamilton County public library effort to relocate allegedly inappropriate books.
In his assessment of Hoosier voters, Bopp looked to the 2022 general election to surmise that 25% is the “default Republican margin” expected this November.
He looked, too, at Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who in 2022 won by 15%, despite facing a “modest” counter-campaign that detoured some “soft/moderate Republican voters.”
A door opening for Democrats?
Bopp cautioned that Braun might not fare so well against campaign attacks, however.
The memo highlights Trump’s May primary results in Indiana, which suggest 10% of GOP voters were “not convinced to support” the former president. Bopp further noted Braun “only got 40% of the Republican primary vote,” and that Libertarian nominee Donald Rainwater will be on the ballot “to drain off some conservative votes,” as well.
“ … it is perfectly plausible that 8% of Diego’s general election vote could be (peeled) away by a vigorous campaign by the Democrats targeting Beckwith …” Bopp said. “This makes the general election very dicey.”
Bopp also expressed concern for incumbent Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita, who could still face additional charges from the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission.
“… if disciplinary charges are brought against Todd during the general election, this will add an additional threat to Todd that he will have to meet. And those charges will also be used to smear the whole team,” Bopp wrote.
Donnelly did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the suggestion he could be tapped to run.
The only way this could happen is if McCormick withdraws from the ballot.
The Indiana Democratic Party has so far excoriated Beckwith’s positions as “extreme,” and in a statement, Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl told the Capital Chronicle that Beckwith’s “absurd views have Republicans scrambling, and rightfully so.”
Jennifer McCormick has the experience to be a leader for all Hoosiers from day one, and her administration will put Hoosiers’ freedoms and their hard work first. She’ll support our local schools, and reject divisive extremism.”
A spokesperson for McCormick’s campaign told the Capital Chronicle late Monday that “she has not been asked to step aside, nor would she consider doing so.” The campaign said in an announcement last week that McCormick’s lieutenant governor pick is expected soon.
“Jennifer is in this race to win it. Hoosiers deserve better than what they have now and certainly better than a radical, extreme Braun-Beckwith administration,” said Kelly Wittman, McCormick’s campaign manager. “It is time for a return to common sense, bipartisanship, and civility. Indiana does not need nor want more chaos and fear. Hoosiers want optimism and opportunity, and that is exactly what a McCormick administration will bring.”
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, not-for-profit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
Please enable JavaScript to view this content.
As someone who isn’t opposed to voting for moderate Republicans as I did with Holcomb twice, Beckwith solidified my decision to vote for McCormick. Braun is already more controversial than previous Hoosier governors, and Beckwith claiming that God told him that he had a hand in January 6th just confirms that he is a loon.
Right? Who gets kicked off a library board? This is embarrassing…
Spot on
Braun sure flip-flopped quickly on his choice for LG. The delegates who cast their votes for Beckwith are way out in left field——–way out. In the article it’s stated, “Braun remains focused on enacting a bold conservative agenda as governor and is excited to have Micah Beckwith as his partner to get the job done.” REALLY???????? He and his selected running-mate, Julie McGuire, “were focused on enacting a bold conservative agenda as governor / LG and is excited to have Julie on his team. Apparently Braun short-circuited his Braun/McGuire “excitement” switch and now believes he’s got an A+ player on his team. No, Braun was let down big-time by those delegates. Oh, by the way I believe Julie McGuire is also a devout Christian and the reporting leads one to believe Beckwith’s the only one. Leave the religion at your homes. Vote on who can run the business of this State (it should be the Braun/McGuire team).
The delegates who cast their votes for Beckwith are way out in RIGHT field——–way out.
Good ol’ Jim Bop.
It’s pretty wild of him to assume that the default margin for the gubernatorial race would be ~20+%. The margins for gubernatorial races in Indiana have only been that high 3 times in recent history:
1) Frank O’Bannon’s second term
2) Mitch Daniels’ second term
3) Holcomb’s second term
Holcomb’s second campaign (2020) was basically an anomaly compared to the other two. More people knew who Rainwater (L) was than knew of Woody Meyers (D) and Holcomb was reasonable enough through COVID that he appealed to more educated, centrist swing voters. You can see this clearly in data. But for the most part, gubernatorial elections in Indiana are close. Especially when there isn’t an incumbent running.
Then, this year, there are:
>Signs from the 2023 municipal elections & 2024 primary that Republican populism is wearing off in parts of the state where it really matters, like Vigo County, Vanderburgh county, and NWI counties.
>The “more educated, centrist swing voters” who are unlikely to vote for Braun/Beckwith.
>A conservative Pence loyalist bloc, who likely won’t vote for Trump, his sympathizers, nor anybody who said that Jan. 6 was an act of God as Beckwith has.
>A libertarian candidate who has shown the ability to get a meaningful number of votes.
ASSUMING that McCormick actually gets financial support from the Democratic political apparatus, this election will be a race to 33% between Braun, Rainwater, and McCormick.
Braun will win and get at least 50%. The Indiana Democratic Party doesn’t have the resources nor the capability to take advantage of the situation.
First time in my life I will vote for Dem for governor.
I’m on same page as Leslie…first time I’ve ever voted for a democrat and it looks more and more – with every passing day – like I may be pulling a straight D ticket. The R party is horribly broken.
Braun still wins. End of story.
Pretty scary, isn’t it?
If Bopp is worried that Beckwith is too far right, either Beckwith must be completely crazy or Bopp is just worried that his own crazies won’t be able to control him. For Indiana the real risk is its own legislature, which is always a vote away from destroying the State’s economy by trying to recreate the 19th Century and making the State a place where the jobs that would move the State forward can’t be filled because the best and brightest don’t want to live here.
I agree…if Bopp is calling someone an extremist, we all need to take notice. Outside money certainly will.
Yuck. This Beckwith guy is a creep. Braun will still win, but Beckwith needs to go away. These mega church people are scary.
Donnelly ran a terrible senatorial reelection campaign that tried to sway MAGA voters (who were never going to vote for him) instead of appealing to moderate Republicans. Not sure why his name would even be mentioned as a possibility?
Actually, the progressives ran against him. He was pretty solid. Reminded me of when the conservatives ran against Lugar.
Bop is so over-the-top. But I hope he’s right this time! 😁
Lt. Gov has no power and no real standing in the party… lol, look at the current Lt. Gov who the majority of people in the state couldn’t even name. If Braun loses it is on him and him only.
Amen Michael!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!. No pun intended.
Those people that don’t know who the current LG is should not be allowed to vote. What else do they not know about the business and functions of State government? You’ve inferred they don’t know anything about Indiana government (and how about those taxes). I would certainly agree with that. So, if these folks vote, they’re likely doing so as Democrats in hopes they’ll get government handouts, and subsequently they create a drain on the State’s economy. Thanks a lot but stay out of my wallet.
Much ado about nothing! Bopp wanted free publicity, and got it. Pundits got their two cents in, and now Kendall will preach slightly different anti-GOP rhetoric.
It always amazes me when, smaller responsible government, lower taxes and removing regulations that hinder growth to small business is radical, right wing extremist.
Beckwith is for getting government back to the people and away from the RINO Establishment, of course this must be bad. Because people are not capable of making decisions with out government intervention.
I think all of this does narrow the gap somewhat between Braun and McCormick but not enough to get her elected. Now, I have also heard the Joe Donnelly rumor of replacing McCormick but that would be very difficult to pull off. But with Braun and Beckwith ticket, it might just be reminiscent of 2012. Can we say Richard Murdock losing to Donnelly after leading big until the last fateful debate. Gotta love it.