INDIANAPOLIS – Four of the Republican candidates for Indiana governor took the FOX59/CBS4 stage Tuesday evening for the first televised debate of the election year, highlighting various topics like taxes, the legalization of marijuana in Indiana and supporting small towns in Indiana.
During the debate, U.S. Senator Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Brad Chambers, Indiana’s former secretary of commerce, Suzanne Crouch, Indiana’s lieutenant governor, and Eric Doden, the former president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation, answered questions regarding the most pressing issues facing Hoosiers and Republican voters going into May’s primary election.
One of the topics brought forward during Tuesday’s debate was surrounding immigration and the ongoing southern border crisis. That topic has been contentious, not only in Indiana but across the country.
In response to the ongoing crisis, Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb previously deployed members of the Indiana National Guard to help support the southern border crisis.
All four candidates highlighted what they saw as a “failed immigration policy” by current President Joe Biden. Crouch, who previously said she supported Holcomb’s efforts surrounding the Indiana National Guard, said she would continue that policy while also emphasizing the protection of Indiana’s farmland.
Chambers said he would be a “loud voice” on immigration if he is elected as governor, stating the border situation is a “failure of the federal government.” As a current member of the U.S. Senate, Chambers said Braun has also failed in immigration policy.
In response to Chambers, Braun said Biden undid all the things that former President Donald Trump implemented regarding immigration, something he believed that caused this crisis. Braun stressed that governors of certain states, including Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, have been on the “front lines” of this issue.
Some lively discussion also occurred on the issue of small towns throughout Indiana. When asked about critical needs in small towns, Doden highlighted his plans surrounding small-town economic development, claiming that the state has “ignored and forgotten” small towns for 50 years.
When asked about small-town improvements, Chambers said it comes down to funding infrastructure, something he believes is a duty of government. To fund infrastructure improvements, Chambers said the state needs to grow economically, which will put more in people’s pockets.
Crouch believes that economic growth will occur through her “Axe The Tax” initiative, something that she mentioned multiple times during the debate. This platform, which has been the center of her campaign, centers around Indiana eliminating the state income tax, which she believes will grow wages and the state’s economy.
While a question during the debate centered on the gas tax, the candidates mainly focused on other taxes, including property taxes being “out of control,” as Braun said during the debate.
Chambers believes that the total amount of taxes throughout the state needs to be looked at, not only one here and there. Doden brought forward a similar approach, stating the would work with the Indiana General Assembly to study income taxes and property taxes.
During his answer, Doden also attacked Crouch’s “Axe The Tax,” plan, stressing that it is “inappropriate for a candidate to make a promise they can’t keep.”
In response, Crouch said that Doden must have “selective hearing,” stating that eliminating the state’s income tax would be gradual. Crouch had previously said that eliminating the income tax would be feasible by limiting the growth and cost of Indiana’s government, as well as modernizing the state’s tax code.
To start the debate, the candidates were asked to look back at Holcomb’s tenure as governor and give a letter grade for his performance. Three of the four candidates provided insight on the question, with Doden not giving a grade because he is “focused on the future of Indiana.”
Braun gave Holcomb a B-, stating that there is plenty of room to do better in the position, while Chambers gave Holcomb an A, stating that he “tackled some real issues.”
During her response, Crouch gave two grades, an A and a C. Crouch said that Holcomb’s performance surrounding the state’s economy was an A, but gave a C to Holcomb’s COVID-19 response.
One of the last topics that the candidates covered during the debate was the legalization of marijuana in the state of Indiana. All the states surrounding Indiana have some sort of marijuana legalization. States like Ohio and Illinois have full legalization while Kentucky has a medical cannabis law that is expected to be implemented next year.
Crouch said that she stands with law enforcement and does not support the legalization of marijuana. Doden also said his first perspective would be not to legalize marijuana but would be open to talking about it from a medical perspective.
Both Chambers and Braun said they would be open for medical marijuana to be legalized, with Braun also stressing that he would also listen to law enforcement.
Many other topics were discussed during the debate, including the Indiana Economic Development Corporation and the state’s time zone situation. The full debate can be watched on the video player above.
