OPINION: Jennifer McCormick is the right pick for Boilermakers

Indiana is in the midst of a push for historic firsts. Women line the ballot for the first time in the state's history, a movement led by former Indiana Superintendent of Public Education Jennifer McCormick, who is running against Mike Braun to be Indiana's next governor.

If history is any indicator, McCormick should not win this race. Indiana hasn't had a Democratic governor since the 2000s and a woman has never held the position in the state.

But history hasn't proven reliable. Polling is showing a narrowing race and the campaign war chests of both sides have only grown.

McCormick is here, she's on the ballot and she's ready to govern for everybody in Indiana, not just her supporters. But most importantly, McCormick, a Purdue graduate, is focusing on policies that could only benefit college students — unlike her opponent.

In the opinion of the Exponent editorial staff, Jennifer McCormick is the right pick for Boilermakers.

Let's look at a side-by-side of Braun and McCormick's agendas.

McCormick intends to legalize marijuana. Braun has been vague.

McCormick will protect a woman's right to choose what is best for her own body, including her right to an abortion. Braun will not.

McCormick's career has been dedicated to Indiana's education, from the local elementary school to the state university. Braun's career has only been dedicated to politics.

McCormick urged Purdue to have a voting location on campus. Braun questioned if there's enough people on campus to even warrant one.

And don't get it twisted — Braun's vagueness is a choice. He purposefully chooses to dodge media, including campus papers like the Exponent.

McCormick, on the other hand, has made herself available to Purdue's community. Her campaign hosted an event in West Lafayette back in September and has visited campus again since. Braun hasn't been to Tippecanoe County since Boilermakers came back from summer break.

Braun has also never sat down with the Exponent, which represents students across Purdue's campus, only allowing a reporter eight minutes to ask him questions over a video call — not nearly enough time to ask him questions on behalf of the campus community.

Through his actions, or lack thereof, Mike Braun has shown Indiana that he thinks he's owed this position for his career in government. His rallies are rare and the few that happen are empty.

And through his unwillingness to speak directly to college students, he has shown that he does not represent the interests of Boilermakers or students anywhere else in this state.

The fact is, Braun doesn't do what governors do. He doesn't talk to anyone but his supporters. No amount of unbuttoned shirts and rolled up sleeves is going to trick anybody into thinking that he's really "one of us."

But if absolutely nothing else, McCormick knows what it means to be a Purdue Boilermaker. Her bachelor's degree here proves it.

Again, the Exponent editorial staff reiterates: Jennifer McCormick is the pick for Boilers.

"I'm just proud of Purdue and I think making sure that students are aware that there's so much promise and part of that is being part of the Purdue family," she told the Exponent in September. "I'm proud of the students that are here. I'm proud that we're here in Indiana. We need to preserve Purdue."

On Oct. 28, McCormick's campaign called our office and told us that they were driving through town and wanted the chance to sit down with us again.

"You're our future and shame on us if we don't take the responsibility," she said during the 10-minute interview at Triple XXX, speaking to Purdue students directly. "Someone did it for us, someone came before us and made sure we had good paying jobs and we had affordable housing, and that we could be here if we wanted to be here, and have transferable skills.

"I'm committed to developing Indiana with (college students) in mind, because I certainly think their voice is incredibly important ... It certainly is a group effort and (we shouldn't be) dismissive of their voice. Because you're the future.

"You're it."

— For this piece, the Exponent editorial staff consists of Seth Nelson, editor-in-chief, Katie Walling, digital news editor, Wil Courtney, city editor, Olivia Mapes, campus editor, Maren Logan, assistant campus editor, Vidya Madana, art and design editor and Cooper Thelen, copy chief. This editorial is based on interviews Exponent staff members have had with both candidates and is the opinion of only the listed names. This editorial has been published separate from, and has not affected, the Exponent's news reporting.

Editor's Note
The original version of this article said there has not been an Indiana Democratic Governor since the 90's and that a woman has never been the nominee for the position. The last Democratic Governor in Indiana was in 2005 and Jill Thompson was the Democratic candidate in 2008. The article has been corrected.