This is the short version of a different blogpost. Click here for full context.
The Indiana Republican State Convention has come and gone, and the elected delegates have chosen Pastor Micah Beckwith as their candidate for Lieutenant Governor. This means Beckwith will be on the ballot along with Republican nominee Mike Braun for Governor. I had promised to support whoever was chosen for Lieutenant Governor, so (barring something crazy happening) Braun and Beckwith will both have my vote.
Still, the slim, 891-828 decision by the delegates to pick Beckwith was a huge upset as, historically, the convention has confirmed the candidate selected by the governor, and Senator Braun had endorsed State Rep. Julie McGuire. This being an upset of epic proportions has left a lot of questions for the future of the party, as well as how the state got to this point. So the purpose of this post is to address that and show what his victory will mean for the state.
The victory of Micah Beckwith continues a pattern of anti-establishment backlash to the state. Beckwith’s victory is part of a trend of party backed candidates losing at the convention, as well as facing electoral defeat. Admittedly, Braun himself was a candidate who beat the establishment, so his pick for Lt. Gov. posits the idea that the electoral anti-establishment and the delegate anti-establishment have different goals. All the same, this likely historic establishment is in trouble, and the candidate that positions themself as the biggest fighter is the one best positioned to win in Indiana.
Micah Beckwith, though, lacks electoral and legislative experience. The Lt. Gov. race is an opportunity to gain some, but it could come at the cost of his anti-establishment credibility. Continuing to take actions as an official means he could have to make decisions that could make him part of the establishment, but maintaining his anti-establishment credibility will make it harder to work within the system. Any decision he makes is going to greatly impact his credibility in the state.
Finally, Todd Rokita was the biggest winner of the convention. As per people I’ve spoken with at the convention and a Lincoln Day Dinner, Rokita wanted Beckwith to win. This sets him up to increase his influence in the state party, and sets him up for a potential run for senate in 2028. Nothing is set in stone, but this suggests he and Beckwith could have a bright future in politics.
With that, that’s probably a good point to leave at what Beckwith’s victory really means for the state party. There are new factions rising in the party that are in competition with each other, and new coalitions that are all fighting each other. Only time will tell who comes out on top, but there’s a long road ahead. If Beckwith’s victory proves anything, it’s that nothing, not even allegedly safe offices, are safe anymore. For me though, as long as I’m in Indiana, I’ll be staying with team Braun, and team Dave Hall this November.
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