Mike Braun, who’s planning to give up his Senate seat to run for governor of Indiana, starts with a huge lead over two rivals for the 2024 GOP primary.
In new polling shared with Secrets, the Republican holds a “commanding” lead of 37 percentage points over his closest likely challenger, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, and a 45-point lead over Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden, who announced in June.
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The survey from Mark It Red said that 47% of Hoosier State Republicans back Braun, who also has a 61% favorable rating.
Braun, a former businessman, has cut a conservative path while in the Senate, putting his mark on issues from immigration to taxes. He was a key supporter of former President Donald Trump who, like Trump, brought a Main Street perspective to Washington. He filed paperwork to run at the end of November, and he is also planning an official announcement.
Allies said that Braun believes that he can be more effective for the state in Indianapolis than Washington. The Republican state has a soft spot for governors who have dirtied their hands in Washington policy. He would replace Gov. Eric Holcomb, a former top House and Senate aide. He is term-limited. Two other notable Washingtonians were also governor recently: former Vice President Mike Pence and former Bush and Reagan aide Mitch Daniels.
While it is early in the race, the poll analysis emphasized that Braun is already near the 50% point and well ahead of the sizable share of voters who haven’t decided. That, according to the analysis, means he could pick up enough additional support to pop over 50%.
“Braun has a higher vote share at 47% than the remaining number of undecided voters at 37% creating a very difficult path for any other candidate to gain a plurality,” read the survey.
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Both Braun and Crouch are from Evansville, Indiana, but that does not appear to be helping her in a matchup with the senator.
In the poll, Braun leads among Evansville voters 45%-19% for Crouch. Doden received no support in the southwestern section of the state.
“Mike Braun and Suzanne Crouch are both from the Evansville DMA (Designated Market Area) and enjoy stronger name ID in their home area, but Braun still leads on a ballot test in the region by a margin of 45%-19%,” according to the analysis.
