INDIANAPOLIS — Jennifer McCormick, Indiana's Democratic nominee for governor, announced on Thursday that she has endorsed a former state representative and House minority leader for lieutenant governor.
Terry Goodin, the previous state director for rural development at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and an Austin, Indiana native, was named as McCormick's preferred choice to be her running mate in November's general election. This comes after McCormick stated she would select her preferred running mate during a Tuesday morning news conference.
McCormick's endorsement of Goodin comes after Micah Beckwith was elected as the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Beckwith campaigned for the lieutenant governor position after U.S. Senator Mike Braun, R-Ind., the Republican nominee for governor, endorsed Indiana Rep. Julie McGuire for the position.
"As a ticket, we are committed to bringing back common sense, civility, and bipartisanship while focusing on restoring women’s reproductive rights and freedoms, prioritizing education and fighting for good paying jobs," McCormick said in a statement. "As a team, we will stay true to empowering all Hoosiers- and all means all."
Who is Terry Goodin?
Goodin, who has previously been called a "folksy state lawmaker" and a "throwback" conservative Democrat, served for 20 years in the Indiana House of Representatives. Goodin served the 66th district, which consists of southeast Indiana near the Kentucky border, from 2000 to 2020. Goodin was chosen as the state's House minority leader in 2017.
According to his bio on the USDA's website, Goodin advocated for rural Indiana and various educational, agricultural and rural development initiatives. Goodin highlighted the importance of broadband connectivity throughout Indiana as well.
Goodin also served as the superintendent at Crothersville Community Schools for 24 years. The district, which is north of Austin, developed an early college initiative, allowing students to graduate from high school with a college degree, according to his bio.
As Goodin's name was circulating as a possibility to be McCormick's running mate, many people have taken to social media to criticize portion's of Goodin's voting record in the Indiana House of Representatives. Many people have highlighted Goodin's 2011 vote in favor of an Indiana constitutional ban of gay marriage, as well as his previously published views on abortion, according to an article from Politico.
"(Goodin is) an anti-abortion, pro-gun, self-described “Bible-poundin’, aisle-runnin’” Pentecostal," the 2018 Politico profile said at the time.
What did McCormick and Goodin say during the conference?
During the Thursday afternoon news conference, Goodin said it was a big day for him, and hopefully a big day for the state of Indiana. Goodin thanked McCormick for endorsing him, stressing that he was honored and humbled by the decision.
Goodin told attendees that he has traveled many parts of the state over the last two years, stating that he was troubled by what he saw. Indiana small towns and small cities are going out of business, Goodin said. Goodin stressed that the state's current leadership seems to be okay with this, claiming there have been "no real policies" that would help rebuild these small communities.
Some priorities that Goodin spoke about during Thursday's conference included:
- Every student has a great education in a safe school
- Recognizing that a state's world class education can lead to well paying and union jobs
- Standing up for the decency of equal pay for equal work
- No Hoosier should have a full time job and still live in poverty.
During the conference, Goodin also spoke about some of his previous voting record that has caused some controversy. Goodin said that his previous voting record on reproductive rights has been "spotty at best," but criticized the Dobbs decision, which overturned Roe V. Wade in 2022, a decision that removed the constitutional right to abortion.
Goodin said that the McCormick/Goodin campaign will doo everything they can to restore women's rights in the state of Indiana, stating that women should be able to make decisions on their own bodies.
Goodin also spoke about his 2011 vote in favor of a state ban of gay marriage. Goodin said that through this vote, he "dehumanized" and "demeaned thousands of Hoosiers." He said that he has come to realize that his vote was "wrong and misguided."
Goodin said that "love is love" and everyone in Indiana should have the right to affirm that love in marriage in the state of Indiana.
“I am sorry I caused that hurt," he said.
Lastly, Goodin said that his agriculture experience, along with his small business and education experience and his 20 years in the Indiana General Assembly, will be a great benefit to all Hoosiers if McCormick is elected and Goodin is selected as her running mate.
Goodin stressed that the Hoosier cause is the Democratic Party's cause.
"The choice for a better Indiana is simple, folks," he said. "The choice is Jennifer McCormick for governor of the great state of Indiana."
McCormick said that Goodin's emphasis and experience in agriculture and rural development would be beneficial for the lieutenant governor position. McCormick also highlighted the importance of bipartisanship and bringing character, credentials and commitment to the position.
Ultimately, McCormick hopes that the Democratic Party, and the delegates in July, will be great and welcoming to Goodin. McCormick said that the party is a "huge tent" with a lot of ideas, opinions and big hearts. McCormick said that like a family, it is time for the party to be strong, come together and win the general election.
McCormick said the ticket is committed to all Hoosiers, once again stressing that "all means all." The campaign plans to travel to all of the state's 92 counties, spending time with Democrats, Republicans and Independents. The goal of the campaign, she said, is to listen and learn from all Hoosiers to win the general election in November.
How are people reacting to McCormick's endorsement of Goodin?
In a statement from Destiny Wells, a Democratic nominee for Indiana attorney general, she said:
“Terry’s experience with Indiana Agriculture and K-12 schools is an incredible asset for the Democratic ticket. I am hopeful Terry will have conversations like the ones I’m having with Hoosiers across the state as we work together to give Indiana a thoughtful and balanced state government each of us deserves.”
Destiny Wells, Indiana Democratic attorney general candidate
In a statement from Mike Schmuhl, the chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party, he said that Goodin has been an "energetic advocate" for educators, students, workers, farmers, unions and seniors.
He has the experience as a public servant with broad connections to deliver for Hoosiers. A homegrown product of a farm family in Southern Indiana, Terry’s expertise in agriculture, public education and the legislative process in the General Assembly is formidable.
This team has the ability to build a bigger Hoosier economy with more jobs, demand more accountability and transparency from state lawmakers, fully fund our local public schools, stand up for American rights and freedoms and protect Hoosier taxpayers from ongoing waste and abuse. Along with our nominee, Jennifer McCormick, Goodin will be a fighter for progress for all families and workers in our state. Over time, he has felt how the critical debates on rights and personal freedoms have shifted in Indiana and across the country. Goodin understands the disastrous impact that Dobbs and the Indiana abortion ban has had on our state.
Hoosier Democrats are the party of progress and we must stand united against the danger and extremism coming from Mike Braun, Micah Beckwith, Jim Banks, Todd Rokita and the current Indiana GOP. McCormick and Goodin can be the team Indiana needs to get back to common sense policy and away from the endless race to the bottom under one-party Republican control.”
Mike Schmuhl, the chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party
As of Thursday, two other Democratic candidate, community activist Clif Marsiglio and former gubernatorial candidate Bob Kern, have filed with the Indiana Democratic Party to run for lieutenant governor.
During the conference, McCormick said she has respect for anyone who is running for lieutenant governor at the convention. McCormick said that her campaign is committed to doing the work on their end to get the McCormick/Goodin ticket to the finish line.
The Indiana Democratic Party’s convention, where delegates will make decisions on the lieutenant governor’s race, as well as the contested attorney general’s race, will be on July 13.
This story will be updated as statements and reactions to McCormick's endorsement for the Democratic nominee for Indiana's lieutenant governor are released.