INDIANAPOLIS -- Confirmation that Gov. Mike Pence will join Donald Trump in his bid for the White House means that potential replacements are lining up to toss their hats in the ring.
As many as 10 people have expressed interest in running for governor, including Congressman Todd Rokita, Indiana Auditor Suzanne Crouch, Congresswoman Susan Brooks, Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, and Indiana GOP Chairman Jeff Cardwell.
Holcomb filed for candidacy soon after Pence's name was withdrawn.
Lt Gov Holcomb files paperwork-- will enter Governor's race @IndyThisWeek @rtv6 pic.twitter.com/urLPnvZ4qS
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) July 15, 2016
Brooks followed suit as well.
Congresswoman Susan Brooks has also filed paperwork to remove her name from ballot, enter Gov's race @IndyThisWeek @rtv6
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) July 15, 2016
Congressman Rokita also has entered into consideration for the position, removing his name from re-election for the U.S. House race.
Congressman Todd Rokita removing his name from ballot for re-election bid now to run for Gov @IndyThisWeek @rtv6
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) July 15, 2016
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One name that has officially bowed out of the race is Ind. House Speaker Brian Bosma.
House Speaker Brian Bosma releases statement, says he will not seek party's nomination for Governor @IndyThisWeek @rtv6
— Katie Heinz (@katieheinz6) July 15, 2016
Evansville Mayor Lloyd Winnecke was tossed around as a possible replacement, but he announced Friday morning that he is not seeking the governor seat.
All of them will have to convince the Republican Party's Central Committee that they have the best shot at beating Democrat John Gregg and retaining the governor's mansion for the GOP.
The committee is composed of 24 members from all over the state. One of them is Republican Tom John.
"The people I've talked to are saying, 'How do those contrasts line up?' and, 'How well-positioned are people from a network perspective? From a knowing the voters of the state perspective?'" John said.
The committee will have 30 days to pick his successor to run for governor.
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The opponent for these new candidates will be John Gregg, the Democratic candidate for governor. He released this statement Friday after Pence withrdrew from the race:
“This campaign has always been about Indiana’s future and who is best equipped to clean up the mess Mike Pence made. I look forward to hearing from my opponents if they’ll continue his damaging policies or join me working to correct them. In the meantime, I’ll continue outlining my plans for creating and retaining high-paying jobs, strengthening schools, fixing long neglected infrastructure, combating the state’s drug epidemic and all the other very real challenges facing Hoosiers which have taken a back seat to Mike Pence’s personal ambition and extreme ideologies for so long.”
