INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Jennifer McCormick, Indiana’s Democratic candidate for governor, on Thursday named Terry Goodin as her pick for lieutenant governor.

The 57-year-old from Austin is a former Indiana representative, serving from 2000 to 2020. The Scott County city of Austin is about a 35-minute drive north of Louisville, Kentucky.

Goodin said rural development would be a top priority for a McCormick-Goodin administration. He said the key to rebuilding Indiana’s small towns is strong support for traditional public schools and encouraging growth in union jobs.

“There’s no vision to help them become areas of opportunity,” he said. “We can do better than this.”

Goodin was one of the most conservative members of his party during his time in the legislature, voting in favor of abortion restrictions and Indiana’s pre-Obergefell ban on same-sex marriage. He said Thursday he regrets those votes and will advocate tirelessly for LGBTQ+ rights and access to abortion services.

In February 2022, President Joe Biden named Goodin as the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Indiana state director for rural development. Goodin also served as superintendent of Crothersville Community Schools for 24 years. He lives with his wife on the family beef-cattle farm near Austin.

Indiana’s lieutenant governor runs four state agencies, ceremoniously presides over the Senate and would break tie votes there, if that would ever happen in a chamber where the GOP enjoys a supermajority.

Delegates to the Indiana Democratic Party Convention will make the final decision who will join McCormick on the ticket. Two Democrats from the party’s left flank — former Indianapolis mayoral candidates Clif Marsiglio and Bob Kern — already have filed to run at the convention, scheduled for July 13 at the Indiana Convention Center.

Asked about Goodin’s challengers, McCormick said she respects anyone who wishes to go through the process of running for lieutenant governor. She said her campaign will focus on getting her preferred candidate over the finish line.

McCormick will face the Republican candidate for governor, U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, and his running mate, Micah Beckwith; and the Libertarian nominee for governor, Donald Rainwater, and his running mate, Tonya Hudson.

Democrats haven’t won a statewide office in Indiana since 2012.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

• FACEBOOK: Watch the announcement

Statements

“Liberal Democrat Jennifer McCormick continues to let us know who she is, a radical Biden ally. After facing multiple rejections from her own Democrat party friends, she turned to her old pal Joe Biden to pluck a member of his administration to plug in as her running mate. She won’t rest until she brings Biden’s policies to Hoosier door steps! These radical, liberal ideas have no place in Indiana, which is still very much Trump country.

“We look forward to Mike Braun leading our party to victories up and down the ballot come November!”

Griffin Reid, communications director for Indiana Republican Party

“Throughout his service to our state, Terry has been an energetic advocate for educators, students, workers, farmers, unions, seniors, and more. He has the experience as a public servant with broad connections to deliver for Hoosiers. A homegrown product of a farm family in Southern Indiana, Terry’s expertise in agriculture, public education, and the legislative process in the General Assembly is formidable.

“This team has the ability to build a bigger Hoosier economy with more jobs, demand more accountability and transparency from state lawmakers, fully fund our local public schools, stand up for American rights and freedoms, and protect Hoosier taxpayers from ongoing waste and abuse. Along with our nominee, Jennifer McCormick, Terry will be a fighter for progress for all families and workers in our state. Over time, he has felt how the critical debates on rights and personal freedoms have shifted in Indiana and across the country. Terry understands the disastrous impact that Dobbs and the Indiana abortion ban has had on our state.

“Hoosier Democrats are the party of progress and we must stand united against the danger and extremism coming from Mike Braun, Micah Beckwith, Jim Banks, Todd Rokita, and the current Indiana GOP. Jennifer and Terry can be the team Indiana needs to get back to common sense policy, and away from the endless race to the bottom under one-party Republican control.”

Mike Schmuhl, chair, Indiana Democratic Party