Indiana’s 52nd governor, Republican Mike Braun, was sworn into office today.
On both a family Bible and Hoosier President Benjamin Harrison’s inaugural Bible, Braun took the oath of office before a packed theater of public servants and politicos at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis. Outgoing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb watched from the front row, as did former Democratic Gov. Evan Bayh; Indiana’s two U.S. Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks were also in attendance.
Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush administered the oaths of office for Braun, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita.
In his first remarks as governor, Braun reflected on Indiana’s settler roots and said he wants to help Hoosiers continue to chart new paths.
“In the face of any challenge, Hoosiers have stepped up to take our state to unprecedented heights, and we’re not going to stop doing it,” he said. “Today, we face a new crossroads. We find ourselves seeking the same freedom and opportunity for which our ancestors journey here, and this time, we don’t have to travel far to achieve it.”
The ceremony was peppered with biographical odes to Braun: the national anthem sung by a glee club from his alma mater Wabash College, the Pledge of Allegiance recited by three of his seven grandchildren, and of course, a rendition of Back Home Again in Indiana by the Indiana National Guard’s 38th Infantry Division Band.
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The Jasper businessman can officially say he’s occupied nearly every rank of government, from local school board to state representative, U.S. Senator and now, governor.
Most Hoosiers got to know Braun though his longshot bid for Senate in 2018, during which he bested two better-known candidates in the primary and defeated incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the general. One of those primary opponents was Rokita, who on Monday stood beaming on the same stage as Braun, getting sworn in as Braun’s attorney general.
U.S. Senate candidates, from left, Todd Rokita, Luke Messer and Mike Braun, speak with each other following the Indiana Republican Senate Primary Debate, Monday, April 30, 2018, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, Pool)
Before Braun’s Senate run, he served in the Statehouse as a representative for one term. His calling card is having led Meyer Distributing in Jasper as CEO for many years.
Braun’s first term as governor coincides with the inauguration of a second Donald Trump presidency ― to whom Braun owes some thanks, since Trump’s endorsement helped him rise above a competitive six-way primary last spring.
He won the November election with about 54% of the vote, 13 percentage points above his Democratic opponent, Jennifer McCormick.
Braun has promised to focus on kitchen-table issues such as addressing property taxes, reducing the costs of health care and growing the small-business economy during his time in office.
Along the theme of charting new paths, each of these issues made an appearance in Braun’s inauguration speech: Rather than “accepting high health care costs as inevitable,” for example, he wants to “take on the opaque system.”
Some of his loudest applause came at the mention of the upcoming inauguration of Trump.
“I am optimistic that the next four years see not only a change of leadership at the state and federal levels, but also a transfer of assumed power from the federal government back to the states,” Braun said.
Micah Beckwith is sworn in as lieutenant governor
Beckwith, the ticket-partner Braun didn’t choose, is likely to keep the culture wars in the conversation, even if Braun would rather not.
Politics: Indiana Gov.-elect Mike Braun will have to navigate differences within the GOP
The two are inheriting an Indiana that’s made strides in attracting global investment but continues to lag the nation in quality of life measures like health and working wages. And they’ll lead a party that has fissures between moderate, establishment wing and a populist, anti-establishment wing that Trump helped cultivate.
How Beckwith ascended to power encapsulates that split: The delegates at the state convention chose him over Braun’s endorsed candidate. One big question of this administration will be whether these competing viewpoints will impact Braun’s execution of his agenda.
Beckwith is also a staunch believer in Christian nationalism, the idea that the workings of government should be inspired by Christian principles. He quoted lengthily from Christian scripture throughout his remarks following his oath of office, specifically a long passage from the book of Deuteronomy that lists the blessings God would bestow to people who obey him.
He used his limited time, though, mostly to preach a message of unity. Afterward, he received a standing ovation.
“In today’s polarized world, it’s easy to forget that we all share the same dreams for our families, for our communities,” Beckwith said. “We all want to see Indiana thrive.”
Rokita, too, is a willing front-line soldier in the culture wars. His remarks following his inauguration started off soberly, acknowledging the importance of serving justice blindly and fairly. It evolved into a stump speech ticking through the headline-grabbing fights.
“We will make Indiana a truly free state,” Rokita said, rattling off a list of topics that were met with applause: DEI and wokism, transgender participation in sports, immigration, mask and vaccine mandates, “where we can speak our own opinion, especially when it’s not politically correct or establishment-approved, without fear of losing our livelihood.”
This story will be updated.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Braun sworn in as Indiana governor alongside Lt. Gov. Beckwith