WASHINGTON _ Indiana Republicans on Tuesday picked Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb to replace vice presidential candidate Mike Pence as on the ballot in the governor's race against Democrat John Gregg.
The 22-member Republican State Central Committee voted anonymously to select Holcomb over 5th District Rep. Susan W. Brooks and 4th District Rep. Todd Rokita, who both withdrew from their Houses races.
Holcomb has been endorsed by Pence and Republican Sen. Dan Coats.
Holcomb, a former aide to Coats, was previously running to replace his former boss in the Senate before dropping out of the race earlier this year.
That gave Democrats a talking point.
"Eric Holcomb has sought three different public office positions in just one year, and each campaign has carried the same out-of-touch, ideological agenda that has set both middle-class Hoosiers and Indiana's economy back," Indiana Democratic Party Chairman John Zody said in a statement after Holcomb's selection.
Rokita and Brooks both took themselves off the November ballot so they could run for governor. They must now go through a caucus of precinct chairman in their districts to get back on the ballot.
A spokeswoman for Brooks said Tuesday that the congresswoman intends to do that. Rokita has not yet commented on the outcome.
Gregg is the former speaker of the Indiana House.
