INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana Democratic Party, the organization that advocates for the future of Indiana and its families, today issued the following statement by Chairman Mike Schmuhl following Mike Braun’s decision to forego his reelection for the U.S. Senate in favor of running to be Indiana’s next governor:

“As a so-called businessman, Mike Braun has done very little to improve Indiana as a U.S. senator and he surely won’t do it as governor. Braun’s half-hearted efforts have been ineffective and he’s been more likely to be spotted on national cable TV shows than talking to Hoosiers in real life about solving real problems.

Time and time again, Braun rejected state economic investments, job creation programs for workers, and critical infrastructure projects – like broadband – needed to create a better future for Hoosier families and the state’s overall fiscal and public health.

What’s worse, Braun supports a form of extremism that was soundly rejected in the U.S. Senate just last night through The Respect for Marriage Act and his stances on social issues are out of step with the majority of Hoosiers. The Senator’s dangerous record – which also includes inciting an insurrection against our country – would be grounds to earn a pink slip in any other line of work.

A Mike Braun administration would do nothing to improve the state’s dismal quality-of-life, workforce, and education rankings, and coming up on 20 years of Republican state administrations, Hoosiers deserve honest leadership that will put an end to extremist politics and chart a course for a modern and better Indiana where everyone has the freedom to thrive.”