Stay ahead of the curve as a political insider with deep policy analysis, daily briefings and policy-shaping tools.
Request a Demo
Here’s how to watch this week’s Indiana gubernatorial debates
Republican gubernatorial nominee Mike Braun, left, and Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick. (Credit: Mark Curry)
Key Points
- Indiana gubernatorial candidates will debate several times this week
- One debate will feature only the Republican and Democratic nominees
- On the national stage, the vice presidential candidates will also debate
The Gist
The candidates striving to be Indiana’s next governor will meet on the debate stage several times this week, offering voters a key glimpse into the nominees’ personalities and platforms.
Two fellow Midwesterners will also meet for the first time on a national stage when Ohio Sen. JD Vance, a Republican, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, participate in the first vice presidential debate.
What’s Happening
The vice presidential debate will begin at 9 p.m. Tuesday on CBS. Paramount+ and CBS News 24/7 will livestream the event.
U.S. Sen. Mike Braun, the Republican nominee for Indiana governor, and his Democratic opponent, former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, will debate at 7 p.m. Wednesday. That showdown will air on Fox59 and CBS4 in Indianapolis.
Both news stations’ websites will also livestream the debate.
Outside of Indianapolis, the debate will air on WEHT in Evansville, WTWO in Terre Haute, WANE in Fort Wayne, WDRB in Louisville, WBND in South Bend and WGN in Chicago.
Libertarian nominee Donald Rainwater did not meet Fox59/CBS4’s qualification requirements, which included securing support from at least 10% of respondents in a professionally performed general election poll.
All three candidates will debate at 6 p.m. Thursday. on WISH-TV in Indianapolis.
The second debate will also air on WFFT in Fort Wayne, WSBT in South Bend, WLFI in Lafayette, WEVV in Evansville, WTHI in Terre Haute, WRJK in Chicago and WMYO in Louisville.
Why It Matters
An informed voter base is essential to any democracy. Debates offer voters a look at the policies and platforms of a candidate, as well as a rare opportunity to observe the opponents interacting with each other.
What’s Next?
The three candidates will meet once more this month for a debate hosted by the Indiana Debate Commission.
That event will air at 7 p.m. on Oct. 24 on WFYI public television. The Debate Commission will also livestream the event through its website.
The Debate Commission is seeking submissions for questions to be posed to the candidates on debate night.
The general election will take place Nov. 5.
Contact Rory Appleton on X at @roryehappleton or email him at [email protected].
Know the most important news affecting Indiana
Get our free weekly newsletter that covers government, policy and politics that impact your everyday life—in 5 minutes or less.
Latest Stories
5 takeaways from the 2nd gubernatorial debate
Keeping tight to the topics at hand and rarely calling one another out, the three candidates vying to be Indiana’s next governor stuck mainly to the script as they met on the debate stage Thursday. The debate, hosted by WISH-TV in Indianapolis and moderated by WISH anchors Phil Sanchez and Dakarai Turner, was the second …
The COLA for your Social Security
INDIANAPOLIS — You’ll soon hear about the cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, to the monthly retirement benefit paid by Social Security. That benefit won’t show up until January 2025, but there will be enough time to grouse about it. Pappy Pickel is reading his newspaper to his niece Paula: “According to the information to be had …
Braun wants to push Legislature further on health care steps
Proposals from Republican gubernatorial candidate Mike Braun for addressing Indiana’s health care costs and improving access would push the Legislature to go further in some areas where it has been reluctant to do so. Braun’s proposals released Thursday argue that Indiana’s business environment is hurt by high health care costs that discourage investment. Braun called …
McCormick’s economic plan: Fewer tax breaks, greater focus on worker retention
Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick proposed a retooling of the state’s budget and economic development strategy to prioritize individual Hoosiers’ needs — child care, education, health care, better maintained cities and an expanded earned income tax credit — as part of a business and economic platform rolled out Thursday morning. “Our approach is balancing that …