The Latest: Pence praises GOP replacement choice
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on replacing Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence as the GOP candidate for Indiana governor (all times local):
3:05 p.m.
Gov. Mike Pence is praising his successor in the Indiana governor’s race, calling the new Republican nominee “a man of great integrity who loves the people of our state.”
Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb was selected by the Indiana Republican Party on Tuesday to replace Pence, who was plucked to be Donald Trump’s vice presidential nominee.
Holcomb was Pence’s preferred choice to take on Democratic former Indiana House Speaker John Gregg.
Holcomb has never won a political race of his own, but was once chairman of the Indiana Republican Party as well as an aide to former Gov. Mitch Daniels.
Pence says Holcomb stands in contrast to Gregg. He says voters must choose between “a veteran who has always answered the call to serve” and Gregg, whom he accused of supporting “tax increases, debt, and insider deals.”
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1:50 p.m.
The Indiana Democratic candidate for governor says the Republican replacement for Gov. Mike Pence on the November ballot is embracing Pence’s failed policies for the state.
Democrat John Gregg says Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb is a new name on the ballot but the main issue of low wages in the state remains the same.
Gregg says Holcomb has “wholeheartedly embraced the failed approach that embarrassed our state, cost us jobs and has left the middle class behind.”
The Indiana Republican state committee voted during a private meeting Tuesday to nominate Holcomb after Pence dropped his re-election bid to become Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate.
Pence and Gregg were in a tight campaign that was a rematch of the 2012 race that Pence narrowly won.
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1:40 p.m.
The two members of Congress who unsuccessfully sought to replace Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on the November ballot say they will now seek re-election to their current positions.
Republican U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita both withdrew from their congressional races on July 15 to enter the governor’s because Indiana law prohibits them from seeking state and federal offices at the same time.
The Indiana Republican state committee voted during a private meeting Tuesday to nominate Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb for governor, a spot that opened up after Pence dropped his re-election bid to become Donald Trump’s running mate.
Republican precinct committee members in the Brooks’ and Rokita’s districts have until mid-August to vote on filling the ballot vacancies. Brooks and Rokita are eligible for those spots. They both represent heavily Republican districts and faced little-known Democratic candidates.
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1:20 p.m.
The Republican candidate picked to replace Indiana Gov. Mike Pence on the November ballot says the state is heading in the right direction and he wants to continue with those policies.
The 22-member Indiana Republican state committee voted during a private meeting Tuesday to nominate Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb for the state’s top job, a spot that opened up after Pence dropped his re-election bid to become Donald Trump’s running mate. Pence had endorsed Holcomb for the nomination.
Holcomb says he appreciates the committee’s confidence in him to run against Democratic candidate John Gregg, who narrowly lost to Pence in the 2012 election.
U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita also sought the nomination and congratulated Holcomb after the nomination was announced. The committee’s vote wasn’t released by party leaders.
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1:05 p.m.
Indiana Republican leaders have chosen Gov. Mike Pence’s preferred successor to replace him on the November ballot.
The 22-member Indiana Republican state committee voted Tuesday to nominate Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb for the state’s top job after the incumbent governor withdrew to become Donald Trump’s running mate.
Pence endorsed Holcomb for the nomination last week, calling him “one of the best prepared individuals” to become governor. Holcomb is a former state Republican chairman whom Pence appointed Holcomb to the state’s No. 2 office in March after his 2012 running mate resigned.
U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita also sought the GOP nomination to face Democrat John Gregg, who narrowly lost to Pence in the 2012 election.
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10:25 a.m.
Indiana Republican leaders have started a private meeting to choose the candidate who will replace Gov. Mike Pence as the GOP gubernatorial nominee following his withdrawal to become Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate.
The 22 members of the Indiana Republican State Committee are expected to vote Tuesday in Indianapolis, picking among candidates Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita and state Sen. Jim Tomes (toms) of Wadesville.
Pence and at least three members of the committee are publicly backing Holcomb. Several other top Republican officials and donors also are endorsing Holcomb. Brooks and Rokita also have supporters among the committee members.
The committee’s choice will face Democratic nominee John Gregg in the November election.
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2:15 a.m.
Key Indiana Republicans are set to meet to choose the candidate who will take Mike Pence’s place as the party’s gubernatorial nominee after Pence withdrew to become Donald Trump’s vice presidential running mate.
The 22 members of the Indiana Republican State Committee scheduled a private meeting Tuesday morning in Indianapolis to choose among Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb, U.S. Reps. Susan Brooks and Todd Rokita and state Sen. Jim Tomes (toms) of Wadesville.
Gov. Pence and at least three members of the committee are publicly backing Holcomb. Several other top Republican officials and donors also are endorsing Holcomb.
Brooks is highlighting an endorsement she received from New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie.
The committee’s choice will face Democratic nominee John Gregg in the general election.