INDIANAPOLIS (WXIN) — An Indiana state senator is “actively considering” a bid for the Democratic nomination for Indiana lieutenant governor.
In a statement given to Nexstar’s WXIN, Indiana State Senator JD Ford, D-District 29, was he is considering beginning a campaign for the position. The news of Ford’s consideration was first broken by Politico Thursday afternoon.
This comes after Jennifer McCormick, Indiana’s Democratic gubernatorial nominee, announced on Thursday that she endorsed Terry Goodin, a former state lawmaker, USDA official and superintendent, to be her running mate.
McCormick will face U.S. Senator Mike Braun, R-Ind., the Republican gubernatorial nominee, and his lieutenant governor nominee Micah Beckwith in November’s general election. Beckwith was elected by delegates as Braun’s running mate after Braun endorsed Indiana Rep. Julie McGuire for the position.
According to previous reports, Goodin was a lawmaker in the Indiana House of Representatives for 20 years, serving as the House Minority Leader in 2017. Goodin, who has been called a “throwback” conservative Democrat, has been criticized for his past votes on gay marriage and his previous comments and voting record surrounding human rights, two things Goodin apologized for during McCormick’s endorsement announcement on Thursday.
If Ford joins the race, he would join three other Democratic candidates, Goodin, along with community activist Clif Marsiglio and former gubernatorial candidate Bob Kern, who have filed with the Indiana Democratic Party to run for lieutenant governor.
“I have been receiving a lot of calls since the presser today encouraging me to think about a convention bid,” Ford said in the statement. “Actively considering but certainly have not made any decisions one way or the other.”
Ford, who represents portions of Carmel, Indianapolis and Zionsville, was first elected to the Indiana State Senate in 2018. His bio states that he is the first member of the LGBTQ+ community to ever be elected to the Indiana State Senate. Ford serves on a number of committees, including:
- Education and Career Development
- Elections
- Ethics, Family and Children Services
- Health and Provider Services
- Local Government
- Rules and Legislative Procedure
On Thursday, McCormick said she respects anyone who is campaigning for the lieutenant governor position, emphasizing that her campaign is stressed to get the McCormick/Goodin ticket to the finish line.
The Indiana Democratic Party’s convention, where delegates will make decisions on the lieutenant governor’s race, as well as the contested attorney general’s race, will be on July 13.
