Eric Holcomb: A Review of His Tenure as Governor of Indiana
Eric Holcomb served as the Governor of Indiana from 2017 to 2025, navigating a political landscape marked by economic shifts, public health crises, and significant legal battles. His rise to power was unexpected, occurring after his predecessor, Mike Pence, was selected as the Republican nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2016.
The Path to the Governorship
In the summer of 2016, Holcomb was originally the running mate for Mike Pence. However, when Donald Trump selected Pence for the vice presidency in July, Holcomb sought the gubernatorial nomination. He was chosen by the Indiana State Republican Central Committee on the second ballot, prevailing over candidates Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Todd Rokita, and State Senator Jim Tomes.
Holcomb selected Indiana State Auditor Suzanne Crouch as his running mate. In a 106-day campaign, Holcomb defeated Democratic nominee and former Indiana House Speaker John R. Gregg with 51.4% of the vote compared to Gregg's 45.4%.
Holcomb's popularity grew during his first term, leading to a historic victory in 2020. He defeated former state health commissioner Woody Myers with 57% of the vote, marking the highest number of votes ever received by a gubernatorial candidate in Indiana history.
The First Term: The Next Level Agenda
Upon taking office, Holcomb introduced his Next Level Agenda, a strategic framework built on five primary pillars designed to modernize the state:
- Strengthening and diversifying the economy.
- Improving state infrastructure.
- Enhancing education and workforce training.
- Improving public health and combating addiction.
- Providing efficient government services with high value for taxpayers.
Holcomb emphasized that civility served as the foundation for these goals. His first official act was the creation of the office of drug prevention, treatment, and enforcement to address the opioid crisis. Other early actions included pardoning Keith Cooper, who had been wrongfully convicted of armed robbery, and declaring a disaster emergency at the East Chicago Superfund Site.
To fund critical road maintenance and construction, Holcomb successfully requested higher fuel taxes and BMV registration fees in April 2017. This legislation, effective July 1, 2017, was projected to generate an average of $1.2 billion annually through 2024.
Legal and Political Challenges
Holcomb's administration faced scrutiny in 2019 when the Center for Investigative Reporting alleged he pressured an OSHA investigator to drop a worker fatality case against Amazon to attract the company's HQ2 headquarters to Indianapolis. Holcomb's office denied these claims, and OSHA eventually reclassified the case as "employee misconduct."
During the COVID-19 pandemic, a constitutional conflict arose when Attorney General Curtis Hill challenged Holcomb's statewide face mask mandate. While the legislature attempted to override Holcomb's vetoes of laws opposing the mandate, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that the legislature had overstepped its authority, upholding the Governor's power.
The Second Term: Policy and Global Outreach
Inaugurated for his second term on January 11, 2021, Holcomb continued to focus on diversity and international relations. He appointed Karrah Herring, J.D., as the chief equity, inclusion, and opportunity officer to foster a more inclusive state government.
Social Legislation and Judicial Rulings
Holcomb's second term saw a complex relationship with the General Assembly regarding social issues. He vetoed H.E.A. 1041, which prohibited transgender women from participating in girls' sports, though the legislature overrode this veto. Conversely, in 2023, he signed laws banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors and gender-affirming surgery for inmates.
Following the overturning of Roe v. Wade, Holcomb signed S.B. 1, a near-total ban on abortion with narrow exceptions for rape (up to 10 weeks) and the life of the mother. After initial court blocks, the Indiana Supreme Court allowed the ban to take effect on June 30, 2023.
International Diplomacy and Justice
Holcomb expanded Indiana's global footprint by leading a trade delegation to Taiwan and South Korea in August 2022. In September 2024, he became the first U.S. governor to visit Ukraine since the Russian invasion, signing a partnership covering agriculture, culture, and academia.
In the final year of his term, Holcomb resumed the use of the death penalty. On December 18, 2024, Joseph Corcoran was executed, the first such instance in Indiana since 2009.
Key Facts
- Election Record: Won 2016 with 51.4% and 2020 with 57% (the highest vote total in state history).
- Infrastructure: Implemented fuel tax increases projected to raise $1.2 billion annually through 2024.
- Global First: First U.S. governor to visit Ukraine following the Russian invasion.
- Legal Milestone: Successfully defended executive authority regarding pandemic mandates in the Indiana Supreme Court.
- Justice: Resumed executions in 2024 after a hiatus since 2009.
| Category | Key Detail/Action |
|---|---|
| Core Strategy | Next Level Agenda (5 Pillars) |
| Major Infrastructure | Fuel tax and BMV fee increases (2017) |
| Public Health | Created office for drug prevention and treatment |
| International Relations | Trade missions to Taiwan, South Korea, and Ukraine |
| Notable Appointments | Karrah Herring (Chief Equity, Inclusion, and Opportunity Officer) |
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Eric Holcomb become the nominee for Governor in 2016?
Holcomb was originally Mike Pence's running mate. When Pence was selected as Donald Trump's vice presidential nominee, he withdrew from the race. Holcomb then sought the gubernatorial nomination and was selected by the Indiana State Republican Central Committee on the second ballot.
What was the "Next Level Agenda"?
The Next Level Agenda was Holcomb's governing framework based on five pillars: diversifying the economy, improving infrastructure, enhancing education/workforce training, attacking addiction/improving public health, and providing efficient government services.
Did the Indiana Supreme Court support Holcomb's pandemic mandates?
Yes. In June 2022, the Indiana Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the legislature had overstepped its authority when it tried to limit the Governor's power to issue mandates, effectively siding with Holcomb.
What international milestones did Holcomb achieve?
Holcomb led a trade delegation to Taiwan and South Korea in 2022 and became the first U.S. governor to visit Ukraine after the Russian invasion in September 2024 to establish academic and agricultural partnerships.
What was Holcomb's position on the abortion ban?
Holcomb signed S.B. 1 into law, which created a near-total ban on abortion procedures in Indiana, with exceptions only for the life of the mother or in cases of rape up to 10 weeks of pregnancy.