Mike Braun is sworn in as Indiana governor along with Lt. Govt. Beckwith

On January 14, 2025By Littum

Indiana’s 52nd governor, Republican Mike Braun, was sworn in 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 politicians at the Hilbert Circle Theater in downtown Indianapolis. Outgoing Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb watched from the front row, as did former Democratic Gov. Evan Bayh; Indiana’s two US Senators Todd Young and Jim Banks were also in attendance.

Indiana Chief Justice Loretta Rush administered the oaths of office to Braun, Lt. Govt. 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 blaze new trails.

“In the face of every challenge, Hoosiers have stepped up to take our state to unprecedented heights, and we will not stop doing so,” he said. “Today we face a new crossroads. We seek the same freedom and opportunity that our ancestors journeyed here, and this time we don’t have to travel far to get 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.

The Jasper businessman can officially say he’s held just about every government rank, from local school board to state representative, U.S. senator and now governor.

Most Hoosiers got to know Braun through his long-shot bid for the Senate in 2018, beating two better-known candidates in the primary and defeating incumbent Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in the general. One of the primary opponents was Rokita, who on Monday stood and shone on the same stage as Braun and was sworn in as Braun’s attorney general.

When he ran for governor, Braun promised to focus on kitchen-table issues such as addressing property taxes, reducing health care costs and growing the small business economy during his tenure.

Along with the theme of forging new paths, each of these questions came up in Braun’s inauguration speech: Instead of “accepting high health care costs as inevitable,” for example, he wants to “take on the opaque system.”

Braun’s first term as governor coincides with the inauguration of a second Donald Trump presidency — to which Braun owes some credit, as Trump’s endorsement helped him rise above a competitive six-way primary last spring. Some of his loudest applause came at the mention of Trump’s upcoming inauguration.

“I’m optimistic that the next four years will see not only a change in leadership at the state and federal level, but also a transfer of assumed power from the federal government back to the states,” Braun said.

Braun won the November election with about 54% of the vote, 13 percentage points over his Democratic opponent, Jennifer McCormick.

Before Braun’s time in the US Senate, he served in the state house as a representative for one term. His calling card has been running Meyer Distributing in Jasper as CEO for many years.

Micah Beckwith is sworn in as lieutenant governor

Beckwith, the running mate Braun didn’t pick, is much more of a culture warrior than Braun is. But he didn’t dwell on this Monday, instead using his limited time on stage mostly to preach a message of unity. Afterwards, he received a standing ovation, as did Braun.

“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.”

The two inherit an Indiana that has made progress in attracting global investment but continues to lag the nation on quality-of-life measures such as health and working wages. And they will lead a party that has fissures between a moderate, establishment wing and a populist, anti-establishment wing that Trump helped cultivate.

How Beckwith came to power encapsulates this division: Delegates at the state convention chose him over Braun’s endorsed candidate. A big question of this administration will be whether these competing views will affect Braun’s execution of his agenda.

Beckwith is also a firm supporter of Christian nationalism, the idea that the workings of government should be inspired by Christian principles. He quoted extensively from Christian scriptures throughout his remarks following his oath of office, specifically a passage from Deuteronomy that lists the blessings God would bestow on people who obey him.

Rokita is also a willing front-line soldier in the culture wars. His remarks after his inauguration started soberly, acknowledging the importance of serving justice blindly and fairly. It developed into a stump speech that ticked through the headline-grabbing brawls.

“We want to make Indiana a truly free state,” Rokita said, rattling off a list of topics that met with applause: DEI and Wokism, transgender participation in sports, immigration, mask and vaccine mandates, “where we can have our say own opinion. , especially when it is not politically correct or establishment approved, without fear of losing our livelihood.”

Contact IndyStar State Government and Politics Reporter Kayla Dwyer at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.