Gubernatorial candidate Doden reports $1.4M in latest fundraising report

Eric Doden raised $1.4 million the first half of the year in his quest to become the 2024 Republican gubernatorial nominee in Indiana, campaign finance records show.

The Fort Wayne businessman has $2.4 million in cash on hand and no debts.

“Since Day One, we have run this campaign at an historic pace,” Doden said. “We laid out a bold vision for our state and now we have the resources needed to communicate that vision with voters all across Indiana. The responses we have received to our agenda of enacting zero-cost adoption, revitalizing our Main Streets and Regional Cities 2.0 have been tremendously positive, and have helped build enormous momentum for our campaign.”

Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch hasn’t announced she is running but raised $888,000 in the first six months of the year. She has $2.5 million cash on hand.

Gov. Eric Holcomb is prohibited from seeking a third term for governor and many officials are said to be considering a Republican run. But Doden is the only one to officially pull the trigger so far.

Included in his latest fundraising haul is $100,000 from himself and his wife. His largest single donation this year is from Chuck Surack, founder of Sweetwater Sound in Fort Wayne.

Doden–who founded several private equity firms–is also the former president of the Indiana Economic Development Corp. and CEO of Greater Fort Wayne Inc. He has been involved in the riverfront development in downtown Fort Wayne.

A news release said he has spent much of the past year on a 92-county Main Street Tour where he has held 684 meetings in 41 counties with business and community leaders, conservative organizations, and voters from all walks of life.