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WHITESTOWN, Ind. (WISH) — Mike Braun held off five rivals Tuesday to win a primary that likely will determine the next governor of Indiana.

Braun, who is leaving his seat in the U.S. Senate to seek the governor’s chair, took a consistent lead from the moment polls closed, taking nearly 40% of the vote. His performance matched several polls conducted earlier in the spring, where he consistently netted 30-40% support among likely Republican voters.

The Republican primary for governor effectively began in October of 2021 when former IEDC president Eric Doden announced he would seek the party’s nomination. Braun and Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch announced their bids within days of each other shortly after the 2022 midterms.

Former Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers, former Attorney General Curtis Hill, and Jamie Reitenour rounded out the GOP’s field. The race set records for spending in a primary, an achievement Braun called dubious. The six candidates spent a combined $20 million in advertising in the first three months of 2024 alone.

The heavy spending wasn’t enough to force a close contest. The race was for Braun almost the moment polls in the central time zone closed, sending up whoops of joy at Braun’s primary night event in Whitestown. Braun addressed a crowd of his supporters a little before 8 p.m.

“I intend to be the most entrepreneurial governor the state has ever had,” he said. “I guarantee you I’m going to be the most accessible governor the state has ever had.”

Braun’s rivals in the primary indicated they would back him without hesitation. Crouch, who finished second behind Braun, thanked her supporters shortly before Braun’s victory speech and urged them to back the nominee.

“We did everything we possibly could. And after that, it’s up to God and the voters and they have made their decision and we will get behind it and we will support Mike Braun,” she said.

Doden and Chambers struck similar tones. Doden said in a statement, “Tomorrow, we will go back to work in whatever capacity we can lead and in whatever way we can best serve Hoosiers. I offer my congratulations to Braun on his victory and, in a conversation with him this evening, renewed my commitment to support him as our next Governor.”

Chambers said, “I hope U.S. Sen. Braun will be the leader Indiana needs and act ambitiously to create more opportunities that will lift up every Hoosier.”

For his part, Braun extended an olive branch to his defeated rivals, saying it was time to bring the party together for November.

“When you run these campaigns, it’s about fleshing out what the important issues are,” he said. “You have thick skin, you get through it and then you have to be very forgiving and don’t hold any grudges.”

In November’s general election, Braun will face Democrat Jennifer McCormick, who was unopposed in her primary. No Democrat has won the governor’s chair since the late Frank O’Bannon was reelected in 2000.

The general election also features Libertarian Donald Rainwater, who was nominated at his party’s convention earlier this year. Additionally, independent and write-in candidates have until noon Wednesday, July 3, to get on the ballot.