Wells receives Democratic nomination for Indiana attorney general

Democratic candidate for Indiana Attorney General Destiny Wells gives speech to delegates at Indiana Democratic Party Convention on July 13, 2024. (IBJ photo/Cate Charron)

Destiny Wells will battle Republican incumbent Indiana Attorney Todd Rokita for the top legal officer position in the state after receiving the delegate nomination at Saturday’s state Democratic Party convention.

Wells received 1,057 votes from delegates while Beth White received 475 votes.

State Sen. Andrea Hunley made the nomination for Wells, citing an “opportunity before us to win a critical office that’s a critical influence over our lives, over the lives of our children, and over the lives of our neighbors.”

Terre Haute Mayor Brandon Sakbun seconded the nomination.

“I’m tired of watching GOP officials celebrate in projects and ribbon cuttings for projects funded by Democratic bills and victories like the American Rescue Plan,” Sakbun said.

Wells noted in her speech how Rokita brought boxing gloves to his speech at the GOP state convention in June.

“Maybe he wants to box a woman. It wouldn’t surprise me,” Wells said.

Rokita’s boxing gloves said “fighting” and “winning” on them as part of his campaign.

Wells now has her sights focused on the general election.

“Todd Rokita is the most vulnerable attorney general in the nation this year,” Wells said in a news release as the party chair announced the voting results. “It’s going to take relentless fortitude to bring home a win for integrity in the Indiana Attorney General’s office and I’m ready to fight like hell for Hoosiers and run right through that finish line in November.”

The Indiana Citizen reported a third investigation into Rokita’s legal license by the Indiana Disciplinary Commission on Thursday.

The grievance was filed against him for statements he made during a press conference on terminated pregnancy reports filed with the Indiana Department of Health.

Last year, he was publicly reprimanded by the Indiana Supreme Court for comments he made about Dr. Caitlin Bernard of Indianapolis after she spoke publicly about overseeing a medication abortion for a 10-year-old Ohio rape victim.