Governor debate

Indiana’s three gubernatorial candidates — from left, Republican Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater — participate in an Oct. 3 debate.

INDIANAPOLIS — In the second of back-to-back debates, Indiana’s three candidates for governor shared the same stage for the first time. While some of the topics had previously been discussed at length, questions around private school vouchers and government restructuring drew novel responses from the trio.

This round, Republican Mike Braun and Democrat Jennifer McCormick were joined by Libertarian Donald Rainwater.

Braun and McCormick sparred in the first general election gubernatorial debate Wednesday evening, but Rainwater did not meet the standards set by Fox59 and CBS4 to appear.

Thursday’s debate, which aired live from the WISH-TV studios in downtown Indianapolis, lasted one hour. It took place just days before early voting is set to begin in the Hoosier state.

Moderators additionally asked about property taxes, immigration, abortion, marijuana legalization, workforce preparedness and affordable housing.

While the Democrat and Libertarian teamed up to criticize Braun’s voting record on immigration in the U.S. Senate, a question about Indiana’s private school voucher system also pitted candidates against one another.

McCormick, specifically, was also targeted by her competitors over her tenure as Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction — a role she held from 2016 to 2020 when she previously identified as a Republican.

Even so, both McCormick and Braun declared victory at the debate’s conclusion. Both candidates made the same claim the night before.

Braun, who lists “universal school choice” high among his platform points, emphasized that Indiana “has been on the leading edge of choice and competition … where we’re putting the parent as the main stakeholder in his or her kid’s education.

“That’s the way it should be. When you have one-size-fits-all, it’s called a monopoly,” he said, adding that while his family has access to a “great public school district,” not all Hoosiers have “that same advantage.”At one point, Braun additionally pointed to public schools in southern Indiana’s Pike County, which he criticized for previous financial mismanagement. The solution, he said, was a charter school. Charters, however, are not private schools.

Rainwater wasn’t far off, saying that he’s “been around long enough to know our public school system is failing.” The Libertarian made clear he believes “thoroughly” in universal school choice.

McCormick refuted.

“We have a lot of people in Indiana who profess to be education experts, and it’s unfortunate, because I believe in fiscal responsibility, and I believe we’re going to have a program that puts $1.6 billion into private education,” she said, referring to Indiana’s Choice Scholarship program. “We should be looking at the results, and the results aren’t good. Also, make no mistake, this is not about parents choosing. This is about a school choosing.”

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