The three gubernatorial candidates — Republican Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater — have agreed to debate twice this autumn, but will do so outside the purview of the Indiana Debate Commission.

The Braun campaign told State Affairs/Howey Politics Indiana he would debate McCormick and Rainwater at the studios of two Indianapolis TV stations. Braun’s campaign has accepted debates at WISH-TV and Fox 59/CBS 4. 

The McCormick and Rainwater campaigns did not immediately respond to Howey Politics’ requests for comment. At the time of publication, State Affairs had not received independent confirmation from either campaign regarding McCormick’s or Rainwater’s participation.

Meanwhile, McCormick on Monday morning challenged Braun to participate in two town hall forums. 

According to the Braun campaign, the tentative dates are Tuesday, Oct. 1, for the Fox 59/CBS 4 debate and Thursday, Oct. 3, for the WISH-TV event. The Braun campaign told Howey Politics the decision to accept two fall statewide debates follows the precedent set in the 2018 U.S. Senate race. That’s when Braun agreed to two debates with his Democratic opponent, then-U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

“I look forward to these two debates and other campaign stops where my lieutenant governor nominee Julie McGuire and I will discuss our Freedom and Opportunity Agenda to improve our schools, reduce crime and lower the cost of health care for Hoosiers,” Braun said in a statement. 

Senior Braun campaign adviser Joshua Kelley last week talked about potential upcoming debates outside the Indiana Debate Commission, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2007 and has been hosting gubernatorial, lieutenant governor and U.S. Senate debates since 2008. 

The Commission’s 11 founding organizations include the Indiana Associated Press Managing Editors, Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, the Hoosier State Press Association, the Indianapolis Association of Black Journalists and the League of Women Voters of Indiana.

Kelley was critical of the debate commission when he said it acceded to then-Sen. Donnelly’s position for two debates instead of the traditional three in 2018.

The April 23 Indiana GOP primary debate featured five of the six declared candidates. Sen. Braun missed that debate due to Senate votes that evening. Kelley told reporters, “Mike is excited to do debates in the fall. We’re just working to get the right pieces in place with the right folks to get that done.”

McCormick has invited Braun to town hall meetings centered on reproductive rights in Indiana.

“Across our nation and here in Indiana, women’s health and wellness remain in jeopardy because of the extremist actions taken against reproductive rights and freedoms,” McCormick said in a statement.

“Hoosier voters deserve to know if their candidates for governor will protect or further attack access to reproductive healthcare in Indiana. Therefore, I am once again challenging Senator Braun to join me at regional town halls to discuss the future of reproductive rights and freedoms in Indiana.”

The next two regional town halls will take place in Jasper on Monday, June 10, and in Indianapolis on Tuesday, June 11. Both events are open to the media and the public.

Rainwater told State Affairs Monday afternoon: “I have been invited to the October 3 debate, and I expect to be invited to the October 1 debate once the details are finalized.”

He added, “The nonpartisan Indiana Debate Commission has always included the Libertarian Party candidate in the statewide debates. Since I placed second in vote totals in 33 of Indiana’s 92 counties in 2020 and also received over 20% of the vote in 17 counties, I cannot imagine a legitimate reason why I would not be included in the gubernatorial debates in 2024. I am a duly nominated candidate on the November 5, 2024, ballot and I do not believe that there should be any other criteria to qualify for a statewide gubernatorial debate.”

Update: This story has been updated with a comment from Rainwater.

Read these related stories:

How this year’s race for lieutenant governor bucks tradition

How McCormick, Braun view abortion, taxes and other key issues

Mike Braun wins the Indiana Republican nomination for governor

Mike Braun on why he wants to be in politics ‘at a level of significance’

Brian A. Howey is senior writer and columnist for Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs. Find Howey on Facebook and X @hwypol.

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