Indy Politics reported on Thursday that Braun is informing Republicans within the state about his plans to run for governor and that he’ll announce after the midterm election, a transfer typical of lawmakers who’re eyeing new places of work. Braun’s workplace declined additional remark.
Braun defeated former Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.), a key pick-up within the 2018 elections that allowed Republicans some respiratory room within the chamber over the last two years of Donald Trump’s presidency. In profitable the GOP nomination, the Indiana businessman dispatched former Reps. Todd Rokita and Luke Messer, memorably portraying every as cardboard cutouts in a TV advert.
As a longtime government — he was the founder and CEO of a distributing firm — Republicans consider Braun’s lengthy been planning a possible run for the state’s government workplace. As a GOP senator, Braun’s assembled a reliably conservative voting document and talked about his social gathering’s have to make plans to confront points like well being care and vitality.
“In 2018, Mike Braun received a really aggressive main, he’s been a rock-ribbed conservative, and as a former CEO, serving as the following governor of Indiana suits him higher than sitting in Washington,” mentioned one Republican who is aware of Braun, talking on situation of anonymity.
Ought to Braun make the leap, it might nearly actually invite a crowded GOP main for his Senate seat in 2024. Braun’s time period expires then, which means he’ll have to decide on between the governor’s race and his personal reelection marketing campaign.