In the last gubernatorial debate before the November election, Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater ramped up attacks on Mike Braun and his Republican ticket.

The three candidates faced off Thursday during a televised showdown organized by the Indiana Debate Commission.

McCormick called Braun’s lieutenant governor running mate Micah Beckwith “the definition of divisiveness.” She also snapped at Braun for saying she had four years of public service, noting her more than two decades of experience as an educator.

Rainwater piled on, calling Braun “the ultimate insider.”

“All of the things that you are frustrated with the federal government or the state government, he’s right in the thick of it,” Rainwater said. “And if you want change, he’s not going to change anything.”

Speaking with reporters after the debate, Rainwater said much of the criticism levied against Beckwith has been justified.

Earlier this month, in the first televised debate between McCormick and Braun, the two sparred over their abortion stances, an altered Braun TV advertisement and comments made by Beckwith. During the second televised faceoff, all three candidates addressed their property tax relief, marijuana and education proposals.

Since then, Beckwith has made more headlines, including when he said he would demote or fire state employees who used their preferred pronouns in email signatures. (Braun, in a statement, later contradicted Beckwith, saying his administration would hire and fire state employees based on merit.)

During Thursday’s debate, McCormick repeatedly pressed Braun over his running mate’s remarks. Braun largely evaded her attacks, choosing instead to tout his record as a legislator and business leader.

“Micah Beckwith is one heartbeat away from that [governor’s] office, and we should all be paying attention,” McCormick said.

Braun insisted he, not Beckwith, would lead the state if elected.

“Look at the track records of whether you get something done, not whether you’re going to say you’re going to do it, and I can give you proven leadership with results and take Indiana to a place we’ve not been before,” Braun said.

The candidates spent most of the evening recapping previously covered ground, explaining their abortion, education and marijuana stances. But even then, McCormick pounced on Braun’s phrasing when he referred to Indiana’s near-total abortion ban as a “good product” that cleared the state’s Legislature. He added that the issue “should have gone back to the states a long time ago.”

McCormick later told reporters she was in a “statistical tie” with Braun, who has long been considered the front-runner in the race. (Braun declined to speak with media members after the debate.) During a visit to Indiana on Tuesday, the chair of the Democratic Governors Association, Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly, said McCormick is one of at least two Democratic gubernatorial candidates this election cycle with “excellent chances of getting across the finish line.”

The association released a poll in September showing McCormick trailed Braun by 3 percentage points. But a poll conducted by Emerson College that month indicated Braun led by 11 percentage points. (Both polls included Rainwater.) Independent polls have consistently indicated Braun remains the front-runner.

During the debate, Braun and McCormick coalesced around some issues, including their support for the state’s so-called Red Flag Law. Rainwater, however, argued that the state’s law, formally called the Jake Laird Law, defies reason because criminals won’t abide by it.

“I own a gun. I am very pro Second Amendment. No one is coming for anybody’s guns,” McCormick said. “It’s about responsible ownership and responsible use.”

Braun advocated for keeping and improving upon Indiana’s law. He stressed the importance of keeping guns away from criminals and those with mental health issues. He also highlighted his history in Congress, calling his Second Amendment voting record “spotless.”

Rainwater said Hoosiers should instead ensure schools are as safe as the Statehouse.

“I oppose the Red Flag Laws because we’re that close to our government telling us that because we go to this church or we are a member of that organization that we have a mental defect and therefore they need to take our guns,” Rainwater said.

All three candidates also reiterated the need for property tax relief, highlighting their plans to provide it. In addition, they all spoke positively about the prospect of medical marijuana legalization in the state, but Rainwater advocated for full legalization right away.

Contact Jarred Meeks on X @jarredsmeeks or email him at [email protected].