Indiana played outsized role in national politics in 2016

Flashback: Pence's abdication just two months after winning the GOP gubernatorial primary paved the way for his successor, Gov. Eric Holcomb.

• Holcomb served two terms, leading the state through the COVID-19 pandemic. His moderate approach divided the Republican party, arguably leading to a conservative backlash that elected in 2024 Gov. Mike Braun and Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.

Zoom in: Beyond providing Trump's running mate, Indiana played a key role in the 2016 presidential election.

• The state was seen as the last chance for the "Never Trump" movement. His decisive victory in the Indiana primary sealed his place as the presumptive nominee, as challengers Ted Cruz and John Kasich dropped out of the race.
• Carrier Corporation's February 2016 announcement that it would move 1,400 manufacturing jobs from Indiana to Mexico became a key talking point of the presidential election and "a centerpiece of Trump's stump speeches attacking free trade," according to the New York Times.

The big picture: Other local stories included the election of Mayor Joe Hogsett to succeed Greg Ballard, the WNBA retirement of Fever star Tamika Catchings and death of the city's longest-serving mayor, Bill Hudnut.

• After his election, Trump reached a deal with Carrier to retain some of the Indianapolis jobs.
• The state celebrated its 200th birthday and construction started on our first (and only) IKEA — though it didn't open until 2017.