Final Indiana Gubernatorial Debate recap

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The final 2024 Indiana Governor debate among Mike Braun (R), Jennifer McCormick (D), and Donald Rainwater (L) took place Thursday evening at the WFYI public television station in Indianapolis.

The Indiana Debate Commission (IDC), which presented the event in coordination with IPBS, accepted and vetted questions submitted by Hoosier voters up to Oct. 11. Those questions were presented to each candidate, with one minute to respond each, and the option to request a 30 second rebuttal.

The questions ranged from major national level topics to state-specific discussions. One of the first topics focused on was property taxes, candidates spending nearly twice as long debating on the subject than most other questions.

“Government does not grow faster than your economy, number one, or the ability of taxpayers to pay it. So, my plan clearly put a lid on the bill to where it can’t go up more than 3% for everyone 2% for vulnerable property taxpayers,” said Braun.

“We have a plan day one ready to go, it was well received because it has bipartisan from great Senators, republican and democrat, and it’s ready to go. It gives relief to every single Hoosier particularly seniors renters and veterans and all homeowners, but it also protects the local level,” explained McCormick.

“Local governments have plenty of other funding mechanisms, you need to be able to live in your home and have the security to know that your property taxes will never increase and that someday they will end so that you don’t have government standing over you threatening to take your property if you fall behind,” said Rainwater.

When it came to each Candidate’s stance on Indiana’s current abortion laws, Braun explained he believes Indiana’s current laws reflect the people’s voices.

“I think if you don’t believe that our people are talking to their legislators and coming up with a good product, I think they did that and it’s a place where it’s settled, the courts have vetted it and it should have gone back to the states a long time ago,” said Braun.

While McCormick disagreed, saying she believes women’s health is at risk.

“Our extreme abortion ban was called a good product by Senator Braun. Women are dying. A lot of women’s health are put at risk, and he called it a good product. It is also not been vetted. We don’t have a citizens initiative ballot, which I will fight for because Hoosiers deserve to have a voice,” said McCormick.

Rainwater expressed the need to hear the voter’s voice, but did not outline a specific stance.

“I trust the citizens of the state of Indiana to reach out to their legislators and let them know what they believe needs to be changed, if anything in this law. This is something where we need to hear your voice, not you need to hear ours,” said Rainwater.

Another question asked about legalizing marijuana for Indiana. All three candidates expressed a desire to legalize cannabis in some level, but at various degrees. Rainwater saying all forms of marijuana should be legalized.

“We can and should legalize all forms of cannabis immediately we don’t need bigger government we don’t need any new commissions. What we need to do is recognize that your unalienable right to choose what you put in your body is not up for discussion by the government,” said Rainwater.

While Braun and McCormick both agreed their first focus will be on legalizing medical marijuana, McCormick explained she would eventually legalize all forms, while Bryan explained he will need to wait and see.

“Medical marijuana, I think it’s time for that to probably take place. I’ll listen to the legislature. I’ll listen to law enforcement and will come up with something that’s gonna make sense for Hoosiers and what happens beyond that I think we will evolve in that way that makes sense. Start with medical find out what happens down the road,” said Braun.

“We’re looking at a commission going into medical use and then eventually going into adult use. There are, there’s $177 million potentially on the line right out of the gate and we deserve that revenue to come in for those local services that we need dearly also it’s hundreds if not thousands of jobs that are on the line,” said McCormick.

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