Here’s what Purdue students need to know about November’s election

With November on the horizon, Tippecanoe County residents and Purdue students will be able to vote in the general election. But with 25 different races to watch, including state-wide, local and presidential, and over 50 candidates, it can be intimidating to know who to vote for.

Here’s a head start on all the candidates who will be on the ballot this year. All Indiana races will continue to be monitored by the Exponent.

The Gubernatorial Race

Sen. Mike Braun (R) is running to be the governor of Indiana and will face former Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick (D). In a solid red state, Braun isn’t expected to face much challenge at the ballot, but his campaign was rocked by several internal challenges, including a dramatic lieutenant governor selection.

When Braun announced his bid for governorship, he chose State Rep. Julie McGuire (R) as his running mate. McGuire even received an endorsement from former President Donald Trump.

But the support didn’t prove enough to keep her in contention, and in opposition to Braun’s choice, delegates at the state Republican Party Convention chose Micah Beckwith, a far-right Christian pastor and host of the podcast “Jesus, Sex and Politics,” to be Braun’s running mate.

“There’s no doubt about this, I’m in charge, and Micah is going to be someone that works with me,” Braun told the Associated Press after Beckwith’s victory. “If he doesn’t, I think that means it will probably not be as fruitful.”

Although Braun’s opponent, McCormick, doesn’t have to deal with the drama of a controversial running mate, she still has an uphill battle as November gets closer.

She didn’t always carry the Democratic “D” next to her name. When she ran to be Indiana’s superintendent of public instruction in 2016, she not only ran but won as a Republican.

The Indianapolis Star reported that McCormick lost favor with Republicans during her tenure as superintendent. The Republican-controlled legislature would later eliminate the superintendent position altogether when her term ended in 2021.

McCormick is running alongside Terry Goodin, a former state representative who was in office from 2000 to 2020.

Donald Rainwater, a libertarian, will also appear on the ballot.

The three candidates will meet Oct. 3 and Oct. 24 for their gubernatorial debates.

The House and Senate

All nine of Indiana’s members of congress, with exception to Rep. Jim Banks (R) who is seeking Braun’s empty Senate seat, are running for re-election this November.

Tippecanoe County’s representative, Jim Baird (R), has been in office since 2019 and is again running to keep his seat.

“I’m the only candidate with a proven track record of being pro-life, pro-Israel and supporter of the Second Amendment,” Baird said on his website. “As a Vietnam combat veteran, I lost my arm fighting communism. And as long as they are openly talking about socialism on the house floor, I am here to fight again.”

Baird is Trump-endorsed and will face Derrick Holder (D) and libertarian Ashley Groff, according to Ballotpedia. Groff is currently not listed as a candidate on Tippecanoe County’s website.

Holder does not have an immediately accessible list of policy positions.

Looking at the senate, two candidates are running for the Senate seat. One is frequently covered in the spotlight, the other is a political outsider.

Jim Banks, who has been in office since 2017, runs against Valerie McCray (D), a clinical psychologist.

“Jim Banks is a proven conservative and Afghanistan veteran who has fought to defend our nation’s freedoms and ideals both in Congress and overseas,” Banks website says. “Congressman Banks has been a leader in strengthening our military, securing better care for our veterans, cutting taxes to grow our economy, protecting the right to life and defending religious freedom.”

“As your Senator, I will fight for women’s rights to choose and bodily autonomy,” McCray’s website said. “And relentlessly, I will focus on beyond-subsistence wages, because I know what it’s like to be a struggling middle-class American; a single mom, a student using the same bag for books and diapers.”

Libertarian Andy Horning and independents Sean Dada, Richard Kent, Antonio Alvarez and Philip Beachy are also running for the position.

If Banks earns his promotion, he will sit alongside Sen. Todd Young, a senator who has been the ire of the former president and the Republican Party at large for his more moderate stances.

As of Aug. 9, Banks has not responded to meet for a debate.

“Congressman Banks is focused on representing northeast Indiana in Congress, spending time with his family and running a statewide campaign to be the next conservative U.S. Senator for Indiana,” a campaign spokesperson told the Indiana Capital Chronicle. “He will entertain debate options as we get closer to Election Day.”

Local Races

In addition to the highly monitored state races, Tippecanoe County residents will be able to vote for state representatives in Districts 13, 26, 27, 38 and 41, county commissioners in Districts 2 and 3, coroner, county council-at-large and more, according to Tippecanoe County’s website.

Who is on your ballot will depend on where you live. Voters are able to see their voting district on Tippecanoe County’s website.