Candidates focus on economy, workforce, taxes in final gubernatorial debate

Jennifer McCormick, Mike Braun and Donald Rainwater appear in the final gubernatorial debate. (Darron Cummings/Associated Press pool photo)

With less than two weeks before Election Day, the three candidates running for governor made their final pitches to voters Thursday night during the last of three televised debates. 

During the event hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission, Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater attempted to set themselves apart, often calling themselves the “only candidate” to best tackle a certain issue. 

The debate predominantly featured submitted questions, which unsurprisingly reflected a top issue this election season—the economy. Candidates addressed the overall economy, right-to-work policy, property taxes, state spending and the rate of unemployed disabled Hoosiers.

Braun, the race’s frontrunner, has capitalized on Indiana’s red voting record and significantly out-fundraised his opponents. But recent party and independent polling has led some national analysts to change their ratings for the race from “safely Republican” to “likely Republican.”

McCormick, in an attempt to close the race’s gap, went on the offensive throughout the debate, repeatedly going after Braun and critiquing the Indiana Statehouse’s Republican supermajority. The quips came to a boil when Braun questioned McCormick’s experience by saying she had spent just four years in public service as the state superintendent of public instruction (2017-2021). 

“Shame on you,” she said. “I was a teacher for 25 years, and if we’re saying that teachers aren’t public service, that sends a true message to Hoosiers of who you are.”

On the next question, McCormick challenged Braun’s record in the U.S. Senate, to which he snapped back:

“I’ve been acknowledged in the U.S. Senate by two different groups for getting the most legislation passed on agriculture, health care and education. Two different groups,” he said. “Get your facts straight before you say something like that.”

Candidates also debated twice earlier this month on back-to-back nights (Oct 2-3). They debated several fiscal policy topics, including government spending, property taxes, road funding and the minimum wage. 

More than a half-million Hoosiers have already cast their ballot since early voting started Oct. 8. Election Day is Nov. 5.

Improve the economy

Braun reflected on his business experience, saying his years of running a company equip him to improve the state’s economic growth. He said he plans to spread economic development across the state and provide opportunities for small businesses to grow. 

“This is probably the category I feel most comfortable with,” he said. “If you’re really going to have an idea of what to do, it’s important that you’ve lived through it.”

McCormick said growing the state’s economy starts with improving the quality of life of its residents. She said she would seek to lower health care costs, increase child care openings and strengthen the education system. 

“When you look at what we’re not doing well, or where we can step it up, is the human capital,” she said. “We need to make sure that our workforce is healthy. We are educated.”

Indiana is also doing a lot of things rights, McCormick said. She told IBJ previously she planned to continue two grant programs specifically: the Regional Economic Acceleration and Development Initiative and the Stellar Communities Program. 

All three candidates previously spoke with IBJ at length about their economic development plans. 

Repeal right-to-work?

Candidates had 30 seconds to explain whether they would seek to repeal right-to-work and prevailing-wage laws. Only Rainwater said definitively he would roll back those policies. 

In 2012, the Indiana legislature passed the state’s right-to-work law, which prohibits employment contracts that require workers to pay union fees or join unions. 

Repealing right-to-work laws is not the most pressing issue for unions, Braun said, but rather, they want to be listened to. He has union support, he said, and it’s important to consider their priorities. 

McCormick said it’s important to balance business-friendly practices and improving the workforce environment. She said she doesn’t want middle-class Hoosiers to have barriers to jobs.

Cut property taxes

Candidates agreed that rising property taxes, a top issue this election, need reform. And, each candidate argued their plan would best serve Hoosiers.

McCormick emphasized that her plan includes bipartisan policy and is ready to be implemented on Day One. She also said her policy plan balances tax cuts and local service funding needs. 

Her proposal includes capping annual increases in individual tax bills to 10% (not including when voters approve school referendums that increase taxes) and expanding tax credits for older Hoosiers, disabled veterans and renters. 

Government cannot grow at a pace faster than taxpayers can afford, Braun said. His policy, he said, resets the system to pre-pandemic inflation and offers relief to “the most vulnerable.”

Braun’s plan would cut property taxes immediately and then limit their growth. Under his plan, owner-occupied homes assessed at $125,000 or more, the assessed value would be reduced by 60% before it is multiplied by the tax rate to determine the final bill. Homes assessed at less than $125,000 would first have their values reduced by $48,000—the current standard deduction—and then by an additional 60%.

Rainwater called Braun and McCormick’s respective plans “word salad.” He proposes capping property tax bills at 1% of the purchased price of the property or assessed value, whichever is lower, for a maximum of seven years. 

“The reality is that neither plan from my opponents keeps property taxes at a static level,” he said, “and neither one offers a way where property taxes end.”

Catalyze disabled workforce

When asked about improving the disabled unemployment rate, Braun said he would seek to channel disabled people and people coming out of incarceration into high-paying jobs in the trades. 

“We’ve got to tap all those sources and make sure that we’re getting folks there to capture these high-demand, high-wage jobs,” he said. 

As a former special education teacher, McCormick said the question taps into one of her specialties. She said the state needs better career coaching and transition plans for all students. She also said housing and transportation are other critical pieces necessary to lowering the unemployment rate.

Rainwater said it’s not his decision to determine which path Hoosiers should take and that he would reduce roadblocks. 

Curb government spending

The candidates have all said they plan to improve the efficiency of state government as a means to lower state spending. And, a submitted question pushed candidates to give specifics, such as if they plan to cut salaries, jobs or entire agencies. However, no candidate provided specifics. 

McCormick said it would be irresponsible to have specifics on what would be cut before being elected and auditing the state’s spending. She did say that many state employees are underpaid already and she does not want to slash salaries. 

As she did throughout the debate, McCormick used her answer to criticize the Republican ticket, including Braun’s lieutenant governor running mate Micah Beckwith, who has made controversial comments while on the campaign trail. In her answer, she referenced Beckwith’s comments about firing state staffers who include their preferred pronouns in their email signature.

“Our state employees deserve to be represented and respected and not have threats of someone coming in to fire them because of what they think,” she said. 

Braun ignored her comment and instead said the Democratic Party is known for rampant spending.

“You can run it more efficiently and get better results,” he said. “Not spending more money, like some parties want to do regardless of the issue. Make it work well with the resources you’ve got.”

Cutting government spending, Braun said, will “yield the most benefits for Hoosiers.” His business experience will guide his audit and cutting process, he said. 

Shrinking the size of government has been a cornerstone of Braun’s campaign. He has released an inflation reduction plan that details the process he plans to implement to reduce overall spending.

Pandemic spending cuts demonstrated the government is purposely overspending, Rainwater said. 

“There’s an entire state bureaucracy that knows what’s going on,” he said. “They just need to be held accountable.”