Election 2024: Indiana gubernatorial candidates Jennifer McCormick, Mike Braun and Donald Rainwater debate abortion ban and the economy

INDIANAPOLIS (WLS) – Indiana voters will decide on a new governor in the November election. Gov. Eric Holcomb cannot run for re-election because of Indiana’s term limits laws.

The three candidates running for office took the stage for a final debate on the Thursday evening before the election.

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It was a relatively quiet, hour-long debate between the three candidates seeking to replace Holcomb, who presided over a state where Republicans controlled all three branches of state government.

Democrat Jennifer McCormick, Indiana’s former superintendent of public education and a former Republican, spoke on the debate stage about the economy, abortion and health care.

“We need to ensure our workforce is healthy and well-trained,” McCormick said. “Our consumers are healthy and educated. That means we need to reduce healthcare costs and ensure we have reproductive freedoms.”

Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun was vying to get home.

“We need to spread economic opportunity to every corner…we need to fertilize a field of small businesses and entrepreneurs, and the only organization that serves small businesses, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, has endorsed me in this race.” Brown said.

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The third candidate, software developer Donald Rainwater, who represents the Libertarian Party, blamed the government for Indiana’s plight.

“They want you to depend on them so they can tell you what to do, so they can tell you where to go and what to think,” Rainwater said. “And nowhere is this a bigger problem than in our public school system.”

Last year, Indiana passed a near-total ban on abortion, with a few exceptions. Analysts said it could be the key issue of the election.

“It’s in a place that’s been cleared, courts have reviewed it and it should have gone back to the states a long time ago,” Braun said.

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“More than 60% of Indiana wants these standards…My opponent said they didn’t go back far enough…and said, ‘Take away the exception for rape and incest,’ and Mr. Braun now says it’s good.” “Product,” McCormick said. “That should tell you everything we need to know about who would make a good governor.”

Senator Braun remains ahead in FiveThirtyEight’s latest polling average, but the race has tightened in recent weeks.