Q&A: Indiana Gubernatorial Candidates

The Exponent spoke to every Gubernatorial candidate over the election cycle to make their policies and agenda clear to Boilermakers.
For the full interview, scan the QR code to hear their opinions on items ranging from local issues such as the LEAP water pipeline or a lack of Election Day voting locations at Purdue to state-wide policy agendas over marijuana legalization to abortion access.
Below we have a question that we asked every candidate. Why should Boilermakers vote for you?
Republican Mike Braun, United States Senator
A: Well if they want someone that is going to be entrepreneurial, that’s going to run government more efficiently, that is going to be about freedom and opportunity, that has run a business successfully, you'd think that you'd want the governor to have the experience of at least signing the front side of a paycheck, if you want to actually make the 80 agencies run more efficiently, provide better service to our Hoosier constituents. I don't think my two opponents, Libertarian or Democrat, had that experience on their resume. I certainly do. I ran a little business for a long time, built it into a regional and then national company ... I think that right there, and a successful record in the U.S. Senate, three years a legislator and 10 years on a local school board, that's plenty of government tutorial to be a governor.
Democrat Jennifer McCormick, former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction
A: They should vote for me because I'm going to represent them and be a voice. I'm going to fight for their rights and their freedoms. So the choice is clear. I mean, this year, it's about democracy or not having our democracy. It's about rights and freedoms or not having our rights and freedoms. It's about protecting women or not protecting women. It's about education and prioritizing it or not prioritizing education. It's about good paying jobs, which a lot of Purdue students are getting ready to go into the workforce and I want them to stay here and be proud of our state and have a quality of life. So I am the voice for them and I am going to prepare to make sure that we have an Indiana they can be proud of and they want to live here, and they want to start a family and thrive.
Libertarian Donald Rainwater
A: Purdue students — any Hoosier — needs to ask themselves a question. When they go to vote, they're going to have two options. I know there's three of us running for for governor, but there's really only two options because the Republican candidate and the Democrat candidate want to continue to collect more and more tax dollars, more and more spending, bigger and bigger government which means less and less focus on the individual. Or they can vote for me and know that, here again, you can see no strings attached. Nobody's pulling my strings. Nobody's got their hand in my back, moving my mouth. I'm me. My policies are mine. My opinions are mine. What I say I'm going to do is on me to do. I believe that we need to refocus (the) government on the citizens of the State of Indiana and on securing their individual rights and making sure that they have the opportunity to pursue happiness without the government interfering. So that is why Purdue students and every other Hoosier should vote for me.
Editor's Note
The Exponent’s gubernatorial interviews were conducted by a member of the editorial staff that signed their name on an editorial titled “OPINION: Jennifer McCormick is the right pick for Boilermakers.” Interviews were conducted prior to the publication of the editorial and did not impact the reporting.
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