Holcomb Announces Re-Election Bid; Has $6M Head Start

Monday, July 15, 2019 at 7:49 AM

By Mike Perleberg @mikedup84

During his 2020 re-election announcement, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb touted the economy, jobs, infrastructure, public health and education.

Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb announced his 2020 re-election bid on Saturday, July 13 in Knightstown, Indiana. Photo via Holcomb for Governor.

(Knightstown, Ind.) - Indiana's governor wants four more years.

Governor Eric Holcomb on Saturday at Hoosier Gym in Knightstown – where many game scenes of the movie Hoosiers were filmed – announced his bid for re-election in 2020. He says there is more work to do in the state.

"I’m Indiana proud – in part because of our heritage and the progress we've made together over this last decade-plus," Holcomb said. "And that’s why I’m running for re-election."

Holcomb first won the election back in 2016, when he took over the Republican nomination from Mike Pence when Pence became President Trump’s running mate. He had been Pence’s lieutenant governor.

The Republican said he would wage a campaign of “good news.” He promised Indiana’s prison population would be a main theme of his campaign, changing the conversation “from ‘us against them’ to a ‘us and them’ approach.”

"It’s because of our team - all of you - that we’ve exceeded high expectations. And we've done it the right way - the Indiana way - by putting people first," said Holcomb. "From the economy, to job creation, to infrastructure, to public health, to education – you name it. We’re making a positive difference in the lives of Hoosiers all over our great state."

So far, Holcomb does not have a GOP primary challenger. Anybody stepping up to challenge him will have to content with the campaign’s $6 million cash on hand at the end of June.

One Democrat has entered the 2020 gubernatorial race so far. Health care business executive and former state health commissioner Dr. Woody Myers tossed his hat into the ring last week. State Senator Eddie Melton (D-Gary) and State Representative Karlee Macer (D-Indianapolis) are considering entering the race with exploratory committees.

Indiana has not elected a Democratic governor since the late Frank O’Bannon won a second term in 2000.

Following Holcomb’s announcement, Indiana Democratic Party chairman John Zody said Holcomb doesn’t work for working Hoosiers, has failed to raise teacher pay, fallen short on a pre-K program, and enabled a culture of corruption at the Statehouse.

“Holcomb’s list of accomplishments is as unidentifiable to Hoosier families as the governor himself. Three years into his term, Holcomb hasn’t worked across the aisle to help Hoosier families get ahead. They deserve a governor that works for them,” Zody said.

Holcomb is getting straight to the campaign trail this week. He has stops scheduled Monday in Hamilton and Shelby counties, Tuesday in Clark County, Wednesday in Crawford County, and Thursday in Vanderburgh and Vigo counties.

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