In the end, it wasn't even close. While political pundits and some late-game polls tried to paint a picture of a tightening race, the election results indiana governor race of 2024 proved that the state's Republican stronghold remains as firm as ever.
Mike Braun won. Convincingly.
If you were following the headlines in the final weeks of the campaign, you might have thought Jennifer McCormick had a real shot at breaking the 20-year GOP streak in the Indianapolis Statehouse. She had the momentum, a compelling story as a former Republican-turned-Democrat, and a decent surge of national cash. But when the dust settled on November 5, the math simply didn't work for her.
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How Mike Braun Secured the Win
Basically, Mike Braun did exactly what a Republican needs to do to win in Indiana: he dominated the "donut counties" and absolutely crushed it in rural areas. Braun pulled in 1,566,081 votes, which comes out to about 54.4% of the total. Jennifer McCormick finished with 1,183,741 votes, or 41.1%.
Those numbers tell a story of a state that isn't quite ready for a "purple" shift. Honestly, the 13-point margin was a bit of a reality check for the Indiana Democratic Party. They hoped McCormick’s background as a former State Superintendent would pull in moderate Republicans who were tired of the "culture wars."
It didn't. Instead, Braun’s message of fiscal conservatism and his alignment with the national GOP platform resonated with the base. He's a businessman who knows how to talk about the bottom line, and for most Hoosiers, that's what mattered most at the ballot box.
The Micah Beckwith Factor
You can't talk about the election results indiana governor without mentioning the man who will be standing right next to Braun: Micah Beckwith. This was the real curveball of the cycle.
Usually, the gubernatorial nominee hand-picks their Lieutenant Governor. It's a tradition. It's safe. Braun wanted State Representative Julie McGuire. He even had the backing of Donald Trump for that choice. But the delegates at the Republican convention in June had other ideas.
In a move that shocked the establishment, they voted for Beckwith, a self-described "constitutional conservative" pastor. He ran as a "check" on the governor, promising to keep the administration from drifting too far toward the center. This created a unique dynamic where the top of the ticket wasn't exactly a unified front from day one, yet they still cruised to a double-digit victory.
Why the Polls Felt Different
So, why did some people think it would be closer?
Part of it was the "Rainwater Effect." In 2020, Libertarian Donald Rainwater pulled over 11% of the vote, largely from frustrated conservatives. This time around, Rainwater only managed 4.5%. Most of those "protest" votes seemingly returned to the Republican fold, helping Braun pad his lead.
Also, McCormick performed exceptionally well in the urban centers. She carried:
- Marion County (Indianapolis)
- Lake County (Northwest Indiana/Gary area)
- Monroe County (Bloomington/IU)
- St. Joseph County (South Bend/Notre Dame)
- Tippecanoe County (Lafayette/Purdue)
But Indiana has 92 counties. If you win five or six by big margins but lose the other 86, you’re going to have a bad night. The "red wall" in places like Hamilton, Hendricks, and Johnson counties—the wealthy suburbs—stayed largely intact for Braun, even if the margins there were slightly slimmer than in decades past.
Money and Momentum
The Democratic Governors Association (DGA) dumped over a million dollars into the race late in the game. It was a "wait and see" strategy that ultimately backfired. Sam Barloga, a spokesperson for the Indiana Democratic Party, noted afterward that while the money was welcome, it just came too late to shift the needle in a state where TV ads are expensive and the GOP has a massive fundraising head start.
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Braun raised over $12 million throughout his campaign. McCormick raised significantly less, around $2.4 million by the end of September. In a state as large as Indiana, that kind of lopsided spending usually dictates the outcome.
What This Means for the Future of Indiana
With Mike Braun moving from the U.S. Senate to the Governor’s office, the policy shift will be noticeable. He’s succeeding Eric Holcomb, who was often seen as a more traditional, moderate Republican. Braun, along with Beckwith, signals a move toward a more "populist" and overtly conservative governing style.
We are likely to see:
- School Vouchers: An aggressive push to make the voucher program universal, removing income limits entirely.
- Tax Reform: Braun has talked extensively about property tax relief, which is a massive pain point for Hoosiers right now.
- Health Freedom: Expect a focus on legislation that limits the ability of the state or employers to mandate vaccines or other health measures, a direct response to the lingering anger over COVID-19 policies.
Jennifer McCormick’s concession speech was gracious but pointed. She said that while she was disappointed, she was "confident that Hoosier hospitality and ingenuity will ensure that Indiana's best days remain ahead of us." It was a classic "midwestern nice" ending to a race that was anything but.
Actionable Insights for Hoosiers
The election results indiana governor aren't just numbers on a screen; they change how your daily life works. If you want to stay ahead of what the Braun administration is doing, here is what you should do next:
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- Watch the Transition Team: Braun has already tapped people like Victor Smith and Joshua Kelley. These are the folks who will actually be writing the policies for the first 100 days. Keep an eye on their backgrounds—they often signal which industries (like tech or manufacturing) will get the most attention.
- Property Tax Hearings: If you’re a homeowner, the most immediate impact you’ll see is in your tax bill. The General Assembly is expected to move fast on this in 2026. Reach out to your local state representative now to give feedback on property tax caps before the session gets into full swing.
- Education Policy Changes: If you have kids in public schools, be aware that the funding formula is likely to shift toward "money following the student" even more than it does now. This could mean more options for private schooling but potentially less funding for traditional district schools.
The map is red, but the work is just starting. Whether you voted for Braun or McCormick, the next four years will be defined by how this new administration balances the demands of the "grassroots" delegates with the practical realities of running a state with a multi-billion dollar budget.