IN-Gov: So far, Democrats don’t seem to be having much luck finding a viable opponent for GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is up for re-election in 2020. Indiana has been a tough state for Democrats especially in recent years, and it doesn’t help that Holcomb seems pretty popular. A recent Morning Consult poll from the final quarter of 2018 gave the governor a 49-22 approval rating.
Former Rep. Baron Hill told the local political tip-sheet Howey Politics that he was “reaching out” to potential candidates, arguing that “we need to focus on a vibrant new name.” (Hill doesn’t seem interested in running himself.) However, he’s conceded the process isn’t going well so far. Hill said he spoke to former Sen. Joe Donnelly, who lost re-election last year, over the holidays, and “I didn’t get an indication he is ready to jump into another race. The subject of governor did come up but it was quickly dismissed.”
Hill also adds that last week he spoke to former state House Speaker John Gregg, who was Team Blue’s standard bearer in 2012 and 2016, about another bid. Hill says that some Democrats want Gregg to try again while others aren’t so enthusiastic, but he doesn’t reveal what Gregg himself thinks about a third campaign. Back in 2012, Gregg held Republican Mike Pence to an unexpectedly tight 50-47 win, but he lost to Holcomb by a larger 51-45 margin four years later.
However, while Howey says that some Democrats think Gregg would just be a “retread,” it’s not clear who else might step up. Former state Rep. Christina Hale, who was Gregg’s running mate in 2016, told them she was keeping her options open for next year, but Howey says she’s “long expressed more interest in running in 2024 after a second theoretical Holcomb term.”
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott, who is seeking re-election this November, has often shown interest in running for higher office, but he said he was only focused on his “normal municipal re-election.” That’s not a no, but it doesn’t sound like he’s especially excited. Howey adds that a trio of other local mayors up in 2019, Lafayette’s Tony Roswarski, Bloomington’s John Hamilton, and Fort Wayne’s Tom Henry, are all focusing on their re-elections, and there’s no indication if any of them are interested in taking on Holcomb afterwards.
Hill also mentioned former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel as a possibility, but there’s also no word if he’s interested. Democrats have touted Weinzapfel as a potential congressional or statewide candidate for a long time, but he’s never taken the bait. Last year Weinzapfel eyed a bid against GOP Rep. Larry Bucshon, and some unnamed “leading Democrats” even told the media they expected him to run, but he passed.