(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana lawmakers are considering a bill that would change how candidates for lieutenant governor are selected, shifting the decision from party delegates to the gubernatorial nominee.
House Bill 1022 would allow candidates for governor to choose their running mate after winning their party's primary election. Under current Indiana law, nominees for lieutenant governor are selected by party delegates at state conventions.
The proposal follows the 2024 Republican convention, when delegates selected Micah Beckwith for lieutenant governor rather than the candidate preferred by then-gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun. Supporters of the bill say the change would give gubernatorial candidates greater control over their campaign teams and improve coordination heading into the general election.
Backers of House Bill 1022 also note that more than a dozen states, including Illinois and Kentucky, already use a governor-select system. They argue the approach allows voters to know both members of the ticket before casting ballots in the general election and helps ensure compatibility between the governor and lieutenant governor.
The bill is currently under consideration in the Indiana House. If approved, it would represent a significant change to Indiana's process for selecting executive branch candidates.