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Former President Donald Trump issued an unexpected endorsement in Indiana’s Republican lieutenant governor race Thursday—backing Rep. Julie McGuire for the nomination.
She is the choice of GOP gubernatorial primary winner U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, a staunch Trump advocate.
The move comes as 1,800 Republican party insiders prepare to choose on Saturday who’s on the ballot for Indiana’s second-highest office. It’s the first competitive lieutenant governor contest in decades.
Delegates have a choice between Christian nationalist and pastor Micah Beckwith—who’s been on the campaign trail for a year since launching an unusually public bid—and McGuire, who’s been on the road for the month since her post-primary campaign launch.
Delegates traditionally lean more conservative than Republican general election and even primary election voters. And they haven’t always fallen in line with party leadership.
Beckwith has argued that Hoosiers need a check-and-balance on the governor’s office and has referred to McGuire as an establishment choice. McGuire calls herself a policy wonk and defends her strong conservative voting record.
Also at the convention, delegates will nominate Attorney Todd Rokita for re-election. He is running unopposed.
The Indianapolis Star also reported Thursday that current Gov. Eric Holcomb will not attend this weekend’s convention.
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What a great leadership line up we have in Indiana. NOT. Trump cult members all. They apparently don’t care that their dear leader was interested in having fellow Hoosier Mike Pence hung. Wow, what a group.
Why did Niki Kelly call Beckwith a ‘Christian Nationalist’? He is a Christian preacher, but where did this new moniker ‘nationalist’ come from? Sounds like an attempt to create distrust and bias.
Because his platform meets the definition of Christian Nationalist, similar to how Bernie Sanders could be called a socialist. Just a factual definition.
And all you know-it-alls apparently must think Mrs. McGuire is the devil reincarnated? Why don’t you do some research if you want to get in the weeds over who’s more “religious”. My research shows Mrs. McGuire as baptized Catholic and still participating regularly in her parish church. And she is, contrary to WIBC morning show bozos, quite knowledgeable about State government, particularly when discussing government finance. Very well educated as well as having learned well from life-lessons she has handled.
She was my legislator and was a tool of the Indiana Apartment Association as they tried to shoot down the mile square tax. She wasn’t there long enough to make a difference.
And let’s be frank – she’s just the latest figurehead female Indiana Republican to be named lieutenant governor. It’s not like Republicans actually want any of them to become the governor. I mean, who’d have been a better governor – Becky Skillman or Mike Pence?
But hey, McGuire was an upgrade over John Jacob. She did have that going for her.
A vote for Beckwith is a vote for a Todd Rokita grandstander-type. Hard pass.
Embarrassing Weirdo activities!! Fdt!!!
This woman knows little and is just another token woman Lt. Governor. It is a do nothing job in Indiana so they need someone they can keep in the corner. Beckwith would speak his mind and the Republican mainstay would not like it.
You obviously no nothing about Mrs. McGuire. She will and can hold her own in any conversation or any debate that arises in upcoming General Assembly sessions. She will prove you naysayers about what she doesn’t know, all wrong.
Patrick, your take aged badly.