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Indiana GOP gubernatorial candidates spar with moderator, each other in final debate; Braun absent

By Brandon Smith

Posted April 24, 2024

Five of Indiana's six Republican gubernatorial candidates were on stage for the primary's final debate on April 23, 2024. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun did not attend in order to vote on a foreign aid bill in Washington, D.C. (Screenshot of Indiana Debate Commission livestream)

Five of Indiana’s six Republican gubernatorial candidates showed up to the primary’s final debate Tuesday, as U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) opted to stay in Washington, D.C. for a foreign aid vote.

And with Braun absent, many of the attacks were aimed at Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch.

Of particular focus in those attacks was her campaign’s tentpole issue, a pledge to eliminate Indiana’s income tax. Former Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said the state needs a comprehensive approach to tax reform.

“The income tax 'axe the tax' proposal is a gimmick,” Hill said. “It’s not realistic.”

Former state commerce secretary Brad Chambers said Crouch isn’t credible on the issue.

“Listen, Suzanne Crouch and Mike Braun, in their 50 years of combined service, public service, have raised taxes 50 times,” Chambers said.

At that, Crouch hit back.

“My opponents are entitled to their own opinions, but they’re not entitled to their own facts,” Crouch said. “As a state representative, I cut taxes a dozen times.”

Crouch ended the most recent fundraising period with $3 million, the most cash on hand of any candidate, but spent only $2.1 million in the first three months of the year. By comparison, Braun has spent over $6 million in 2024.

Chambers, who has spent $6.7 million on the campaign this year and contributed $8 million to it, was one of the few to take up the opportunity to criticize Braun in his absence, accusing the senator of inaction on the southern border.

The candidates also sparred as much with the moderator as with each other.

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The Indiana Debate Commission’s format was aimed at cutting down on standard-length, canned answers. And it sought to achieve that in part by asking rapid-fire questions designed to elicit yes or no responses.

Many of the candidates took issue with that. It came to a head around questions focused on election integrity, in this exchange between Jamie Reitenour and moderator Jon Schwantes.

“It seems like you’re really trying to set us up and cause division in our party and we don’t appreciate it,” Reitenour said.

“Ms. Reitenour, I think the party is doing quite capably on its own, creating some division,” Schwantes responded.

Former head of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation Eric Doden is the one candidate who didn’t argue with the moderator or his fellow candidates. He remained focused on his campaign talking points.

“We have more plans in writing than everyone on this stage combined,” Doden said.

Doden, also a former commerce secretary, spent $5.2 million in the first three months of this year and last reported having about $250,000 of cash on hand.

Primary election day is May 7.

Additional information has been included from Associated Press.

Brandon is our Statehouse bureau chief. Contact him at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.