In the late spring of 2016, Donald J. Trump emerged as the winner of the Indiana presidential primary, securing 53.6% of the vote. However, the Republican establishment was initially hesitant to support him. Governor Mike Pence had only given a lukewarm endorsement to Senator Ted Cruz. At that time, only former GOP Chair Rex Early and Sullivan County Chairman Bill Springer were openly supporting Trump as the delegates for the national convention were announced.
The veepstakes followed, and by mid-July, Governor Pence emerged as the frontrunner. As soon as the Trump/Pence ticket was finalized, the Indiana establishment rallied behind them. In November, when Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton shocked the nation, it opened doors for more than twenty Indiana Republicans to join the new administration.
This week, there is a growing division within the Indiana GOP establishment regarding the question of President Trump’s second term. Some members who previously worked for President Trump are not showing support for his re-election campaign.
Vice President Pence stood out among others with his announcement, stating, “After much contemplation and deep reflection, I have reached the decision not to endorse Donald Trump this year.” Pence expressed his dedication to the Trump/Pence administration, having tirelessly worked for four and a half years to establish their record. However, he explained that he could not, in good faith, endorse Trump’s current platform and candidacy for this year.
None of the Hoosier Republicans who served in the Trump administration, including Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Seema Verma, and former Pence Chief of Staff Marc Short, have endorsed or committed to voting for Trump at this time. U.S. Senator Todd Young has stated that he will not vote for Trump or President Biden. Additionally, U.S. Representatives Greg Pence and Larry Bucshon, both Republicans, have chosen not to seek reelection after supporting Mike Pence.
Governor Eric Holcomb has refrained from endorsing any candidate since Mike Pence withdrew his campaign last year. In October, Holcomb expressed his perspective on Indiana’s role in the election process and stated, “We’ll see what role Indiana plays in the whole process. I’ll be looking for the individual who can effectively communicate a substantive agenda or plan and, more importantly, demonstrate the ability to execute it.”
Many of the individuals in Indiana who are supporting Trump for the 2024 election are also running for office this year. This includes the six-person Republican field for the gubernatorial race, which consists of candidates like U.S. Rep. Jim Banks, who is considered the frontrunner for the U.S. Senate nomination, U.S. Rep. Erin Houchin, and several congressional candidates. Additionally, Attorney General Todd Rokita, who intends to seek renomination at the Indiana GOP convention in June, is also supporting Trump.
NBC News contacted 44 individuals who had previously served in Trump’s cabinet during the summer. Out of those, four have openly expressed their support for his reelection. This includes former Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker, Trump’s last chief of staff Mark Meadows, former budget chief Russell Vought, and former Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell.
In his 2024 campaign, the former president is driven by a desire for retribution. He now refers to the insurrectionists of January 6, 2021, who chanted for the murder of Vice President Pence, as “hostages” and has promised to pardon them, despite their convictions for assaulting police officers. Additionally, he has given the go-ahead for abandoning Ukraine, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stating that Trump will cut off funding. Furthermore, he has openly endorsed political violence, even going so far as to predict “blood in the streets” if he is indicted, as he currently faces 88 criminal charges.
After an intense six-month campaign for the presidency, Pence made the decision to withdraw in October. Throughout his campaign, he received endorsements from prominent figures such as Holcomb, Coats, and Representatives Pence and Bucshon.
Last summer, NBC News contacted Coats who expressed his belief in Pence’s potential as a great president. Coats stated, “I believe he possesses all the qualities necessary for the role. Despite the challenges he may face, I am impressed by the integrity he has shown and his remarkable qualifications.”
Coats did not provide a response when asked by Howey Politics Indiana about his stance on supporting Trump in November, considering Pence is no longer running for office.
In an interview with Howey Politics, Adams expressed his belief that health care and public health should transcend partisan politics. He emphasized his commitment to remaining impartial by refraining from endorsing specific candidates or disclosing his voting preferences. However, he made it clear that he is prepared to lend his expertise and support to any president in their efforts to improve America’s health outcomes and address the existing inequalities in the healthcare system.
In a 2023 interview with Managed Healthcare Executive magazine, Verma reflected on her experience working in the Trump White House. She emphasized that it was far from a normal work environment, where disagreements were handled with civility. Instead, it was a toxic and hostile atmosphere, where individuals would threaten to undermine and attack one another. Verma admitted that every day felt uncertain, leaving her constantly on edge, wondering what new challenges she would face.
According to Short, during an interview with NBC, the assumption is that any efforts made to harm Trump would ultimately benefit Biden in a potential Biden versus Trump scenario. However, Short adds that going against the Constitution would be disqualifying, and he does not intend to assist Biden in any way.
In December 2023, Alyssa Farah Griffin, a former Pence staffer, expressed her concerns about the potential consequences of a second Trump term. She stated, “Fundamentally, a second Trump term could bring about the end of American democracy as we know it, and I don’t say that lightly.”
