Gubernatorial nominee Jennifer McCormick, attending her first Democratic convention, told delegates Saturday: “It’s been a good day to be a Democrat in Indiana. It will be an even better day to be a Democrat in Indiana in November. We’ve got work to do, and it starts today.”

She was joined by her running mate, Terry Goodin, and attorney general nominee Destiny Wells about two hours after word came that former president Donald J. Trump was shot in Pennsylvania.

“I just want to take a minute,” McCormick said. “Our prayers have to be with the former president. There is no room for violence in our political discourse. No room.”

McCormick then said, “Democracy is on the line.”

In a slight dig at her Republican opponent, Mike Braun, who saw his choice for lieutenant governor defeated last month at the GOP convention, McCormick said of Goodin: “It shows Indiana you can trust a candidate running for governor.”

The former Republican superintendent of public instruction told delegates: “We embrace inclusivity. We are the party that has a ticket of civility and bipartisanship. We will bring opportunity and solutions because people know with Democrats, things get done.

“If you want to protect public schools, join us,” she said. “If you’re worried about your water or your wages, join us.”

Indiana Democratic Chairman Mike Schmuhl called the opposition “the most extreme ticket the Republicans have ever put up: Trump, Braun, Beckwith, Banks, Rokita — the MAGA starting lineup.”

Schmuhl said, “We need to stop them. I grew up in Indiana when my hometown mayor was a guy named Joe Kernan. That was my example of a public servant: POW, mayor, lieutenant governor, governor. We need more Joe Kernans in Indiana.”

Schmuhl added, “Indiana wasn’t always this way, when we had Dick Lugar and Evan Bayh. We need to get back to that balance in our state. So it’s supporting Jennifer. We need four seats in the Statehouse to break the supermajority. And I think we can do it. You can only go so far to the right until you start cracking up. I think we’re going to see that this summer and fall.”

Former Indiana Democratic Party Chair Robin Winston, serving now as permanent convention chair, said, “We have a chance to show Indiana what we’re made of. We’re not going to be crazy today; we’re gonna be winners today. Folks, we have a major election ahead of us. They told Frank O’Bannon he couldn’t win, and he won. They told Barack Obama he couldn’t win, and he won. Don’t tell us we can’t win.”
Winston added, “Democrats embrace inclusion. That’s our DEI. We embrace inclusion.”

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