Goodin confirmed as McCormick’s running mate at Democratic state convention

The ticket for the Indiana Democratic Party is set after the party’s delegates confirmed Terry Goodin as their lieutenant governor candidate Saturday evening to run alongside gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick this November.

McCormick, the former state superintendent of public instruction, endorsed Goodin as her preferred candidate in June, saying the former state representative reflected her priorities and countered what her campaign calls an “extreme agenda” by her Republican opponents Mike Braun and Micah Beckwith.

Delegates at Saturday’s state convention largely supported their gubernatorial candidate’s choice with 1,209 votes. Tamie Dixon-Tatum, who failed to garner enough signatures to get on the gubernatorial ballot, also tallied 162 votes. Clif Marsiglio received 145 votes and perennial political candidate Bob Kern ended up with nine. A total of 1,932 delegates attended the convention.

Also on Saturday, Destiny Wells topped Beth White to become the Democratic candidate for attorney general to challenge incumbent Todd Rokita.

McCormick will face Braun and Libertarian Donald Rainwater in November’s election to replace Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, who could not run for reelection due to term limits.

Democrats are attempting to capitalize on what Party Chair Mike Schmuhl calls “the most extreme ticket the Republicans have ever put forward in our state’s history.”

While Goodin’s reputation as a “socially conservative Democrat” added another layer to McCormick’s centrist ticket, some Democrats have criticized the campaign for lacking competitiveness and leaning too far center (especially considering her past as a Republican). 

When McCormick announced him as her preferred pick, he gave similar positions but also recanted his previous conservatively aligned positions on abortion and same-sex marriage.

Goodin spent two decades representing the 66th District in southern Indiana in the state House of Representatives. He lost his reelection in 2020 to Republican Zach Payne.

Since his time in the Statehouse, Goodin has served as the Indiana State Rural Development Director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Representing the rural demographic McCormick needs to persuade, he is a native of Austin, Indiana, and grew up on and still tends to a cattle farm. Goodin belongs to the Indiana Farm Bureau and the National Rifle Association as well as beef cattle, religious and superintendent groups. He also identifies as Pentecostal.

In his acceptance speech, Goodin recounted campaign priorities to support rural economic development, improve public school education and reduce poverty. He also spoke of fighting against injustice and gave his support to the LGBTQ community.

“Indiana’s better days are ahead of her,” he said. “We will reach those days when we elect Jennifer McCormick the governor of the great state of Indiana.”

McCormick and Goodin told reporters they believe their “common sense” ticket will convert voters, especially in southern Indiana.

Amid fundraising deficits and an ideological supermajority, the pair said it will take a widespread effort and a lot of campaigning. But, McCormick smiled when Goodin said he’s competitive and looking forward to the challenge.

“It’s going to be a big lift, but we’re energized,” McCormick said. “It’s going to take very much a grassroots coalition.”