Gov. Mike Braun's inauguration pushes Indiana further right
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Arika Herron/Axios
Mike Braun was sworn in as Indiana's 52nd governor Monday.
Why it matters: Braun may be a businessman who ran on "kitchen table" issues and improving government efficiency, but Monday's inauguration signaled that this administration will be more socially conservative than the previous one.
The big picture: The ceremony at Hilbert Circle Theatre featured speeches from Braun, Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita as they were installed into their positions.
- Christian nationalist Beckwith, who was not the running mate Braun wanted, leaned into his experience as a pastor to read a Bible passage encouraging individuals to "fully obey the words of God."
Zoom in: Rokita, who was reelected for a second term as the state's chief legal officer, plans to continue taking on many far-right social issues.
- "We will make Indiana a truly free state where we are rewarded for the results of our work and not the politics of DEI, ESG, CRT, whatever other acronym or pronoun… " Rokita said during his brief remarks, "where life is respected, just as our constitution commands, where we can raise our children the way God intended without interference by woke schools, doctors or courts, where there are two genders — male and female — and they each have their own sports teams, where our immigration laws are respected and criminals are kept behind bars and where we are no longer vaxxed or masked."
Fun fact: Braun was sworn in using two Bibles — his family tome and the one used by President Benjamin Harrison at his inauguration in 1889.
What he's saying: "In Indiana, we have a strong foundation, built on the shoulders of the fearless, hard-working Hoosiers, small business owners, talented entrepreneurs and persevering leaders who laid the foundation upon which we will build," Braun said during his inaugural address. "That same entrepreneurial drive must live within each of us to face today's challenges."
What's next: Braun has begun laying out his initial agenda, with priorities on addressing rising property taxes and lowering health care costs.
- Lawmakers are considering legislation that would begin addressing these concerns. The legislative session ends in April.