Eric Holcomb

Eric Joseph Holcomb (born May 2, 1968)[1] is an American politician serving as the 51st and current governor of Indiana since 2017. A member of the Republican Party, he served as the 51st lieutenant governor of Indiana from 2016 to 2017 under Governor Mike Pence, now the 48th Vice President of the United States. Holcomb was nominated to fill the remainder of Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann's term after she resigned on March 2, 2016, to become President of Ivy Tech Community College.[2] He won the 2016 election for governor of Indiana over Democratic nominee John R. Gregg.

Eric Holcomb
51st Governor of Indiana
Assumed office
January 9, 2017
LieutenantSuzanne Crouch
Preceded byMike Pence
51st Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
In office
March 3, 2016 – January 9, 2017
GovernorMike Pence
Preceded bySue Ellspermann
Succeeded bySuzanne Crouch
Chair of the Indiana Republican Party
In office
January 3, 2011 – July 22, 2013
Preceded byJ. Murray Clark
Succeeded byTim Berry
Personal details
Born
Eric Joseph Holcomb

(1968-05-02) May 2, 1968
Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Janet Holcomb
ResidenceGovernor's Residence
EducationHanover College (BA)
WebsiteGovernment website
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Navy
Years of service1990–1996

Early life and education

Holcomb was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated from Pike High School in Indianapolis,[3] and in 1990 from Hanover College in Hanover, Indiana. At Hanover, he joined the fraternity Phi Gamma Delta[4] and served as chapter president. Holcomb served in the United States Navy for six years as an intelligence officer,[5] stationed in Jacksonville, Florida and in Lisbon, Portugal.[6] He received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree from Trine University on October 5, 2018,[7] and an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Anderson University on May 11, 2019.[8]

Early political career

Holcomb began working for John Hostettler, a member of the United States House of Representatives, in 1997.[9] In 2000, Holcomb ran for the Indiana House of Representatives against John Frenz, but was defeated.[3]

From 2003 to 2011, Holcomb served as an advisor to Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels, eventually rising to the role of Deputy Chief of Staff,[10][11][12] and served as campaign manager for Daniels's 2008 gubernatorial campaign. He became Chairman of the Indiana Republican Party in 2011.[6] In 2013, he resigned to become the state chief of staff to U.S. Senator Dan Coats.[13][14] In March 2015 Coats announced that he would not run for reelection to the Senate in the 2016 election, and Holcomb announced his intention to run.[15] In February 2016, Holcomb withdrew from the Senate race.[16][17]

Lieutenant governor of Indiana

After Lieutenant Governor Sue Ellspermann announced her resignation, Governor Mike Pence chose Holcomb to succeed her and to be his running mate in the 2016 gubernatorial election.[18] Holcomb was sworn in as lieutenant governor on March 3, 2016.[19]

Governor of Indiana

2016 election
Main article: 2016 Indiana gubernatorial election
Holcomb at a gubernatorial debate

Governor Mike Pence was running for reelection with Holcomb as his running mate in the spring and summer of 2016. By late June, rumors that Pence would be the Republican Party’s nominee for Vice President under presumptive presidential nominee Donald Trump began to gain traction. In early July, Trump officially selected Pence as his running mate. Pence then withdrew from Indiana's gubernatorial election and Holcomb withdrew as the nominee for lieutenant governor. Holcomb decided to pursue the nomination for governor and was selected on the second ballot by the Indiana State Republican Central Committee, defeating Rep. Susan Brooks, Rep. Todd Rokita, and State Senator Jim Tomes.[20]

Holcomb chose Indiana State Auditor Suzanne Crouch as his running mate. They faced 2012 Democratic nominee and former Indiana House Speaker John R. Gregg and his running mate, State Representative Christina Hale. After an unprecedented 106-day campaign, Holcomb defeated Gregg, 51.4% to 45.4%.

Tenure

After winning the election, Holcomb announced his agenda for the upcoming Indiana General Assembly legislative session. What Holcomb calls his “Next Level Agenda” is based on five “pillars”: strengthening and diversifying Indiana’s economy, strengthening Indiana’s infrastructure, strengthening education and workforce training, strengthening public health and attacking addiction and providing great government service at an exceptional value to taxpayers. He has said that civility is the foundation on which the other pillars are based.[21]

Holcomb’s first act as governor was creating the office of drug prevention, treatment and enforcement and tasking that office with tackling the opioid crisis and other addiction issues in Indiana. Additionally, early in his first term, Holcomb pardoned Keith Cooper, who served eight years in prison after being wrongfully convicted of an armed robbery, declared a disaster emergency at the East Chicago Superfund Site and ended contract discussions between the Indiana Finance Authority and Agile Networks to manage Indiana’s communications infrastructure, including cell towers.[22]

Holcomb has made attracting international investment and opening more overseas markets for Hoosier-produced goods a priority. Since taking office, he has led 11 international economic development trips visiting with government, business, education, military and nonprofit leaders in the United Kingdom (as governor-elect), France, Hungary, Japan, India, Canada, Israel, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Luxembourg, South Korea and China. He has also visited Hoosier servicemen and women and members of the United States Diplomatic Corps serving overseas.[23]

Holcomb’s international engagement strategy has resulted in foreign direct investment (FDI) into Indiana increasing 300% since 2017. In recognition of his efforts, the Indianapolis-based International Center named Holcomb its 2018 International Citizen of the Year.[24]

In April 2017, the Indiana legislature approved Holcomb's request for higher fuel taxes and BMV registration fees to fund infrastructure spending, primarily on road maintenance and construction. The law went into effect on July 1, 2017, and is projected to raise on average $1.2 billion per year through 2024.[25]

In the first quarter of 2019, the National Journal reported that Holcomb's reelection faced serious challenges. It ranked him number 10 on its endangered list, writing, "Holcomb is facing potential match-ups with former state health commissioner Woody Myers and state Senator Eddie Melton."[26] By the end of the second quarter, his approval rating had risen to 50%.[27]

Controversies

In November 2019, the Center for Investigative Reporting claimed that Holcomb had personally pressured an Indiana OSHA investigator to drop a worker fatality case against Amazon so that Indianapolis could have a better chance at being the home of Amazon's Headquarters 2.0. His office denied the allegations, saying he had not even attended the meeting with the OSHA commissioner and investigator.[28] Holcomb also said the accusations against him would pose a threat to Indiana's "positive business climate" and demanded they be retracted.[29] OSHA eventually dropped the citations against Amazon's fulfillment center, and the case was reclassified as one of "employee misconduct" rather than a shortfall in training and safety procedures.[28]

In July 2020, Attorney General Curtis Hill accused Holcomb of overstepping his authority by issuing a statewide face mask mandate with criminal penalties. Hill said that only the legislature has the power under the Indiana constitution to create laws.[30]

Personal life

Holcomb's wife, Janet, runs a family business in Madison County, Indiana.[31] They have no children, and own a miniature schnauzer, Henry Holcomb, who is known as the "First Dog of Indiana".[32]

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References
  1. "Lt. Governor Eric Holcomb (R-Indiana) biography". capwiz.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  2. Slodysko, Bryan (February 18, 2016). "Lt. Gov. Sue Ellspermann to resign March 2 in expected move". The Indianapolis Star. The Associated Press. Retrieved November 2, 2016.
  3. Cook, Tony; Schneider, Chelsea. "Meet the new lieutenant governor, Eric Holcomb". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. "Phi Gamma Delta". Phigam.org. Retrieved December 24, 2017.
  5. "Eric Holcomb '90 elected Indiana's governor". hanover.edu. Hanover College. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  6. "Kellems drops bid for state GOP chair". Madison Courier. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  7. "A night full of surprises celebrates Trine and its supporters". Trine.edu. Trine University.
  8. "AU Announces Speakers and Honorees for 2019 Graduation". Anderson.edu. Anderson University. Retrieved May 11, 2019.
  9. "Brazil Times: Local News: Holcomb to serve as congressman's district director (02/18/03)". thebraziltimes.com. Archived from the original on February 15, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  10. Press, The Associated (January 8, 2017). "A look at Indiana Gov.-elect Eric Holcomb". AP NEWS. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  11. https://www.dudesolutions.com, Dude Solutions, Inc. "IN.gov". calendar.in.gov.
  12. "Tully: Can Eric Holcomb win the GOP Senate nomination?". Indianapolis Star. July 14, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  13. "Pence ally Cardwell replacing Berry as Indiana GOP chair". Indianapolis Star. March 11, 2015. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  14. "Coats Announces Eric Holcomb to Serve as State Chief of Staff". June 21, 2013. Archived from the original on December 3, 2016. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  15. Joseph, Cameron (March 26, 2015). "Chief of staff launches Senate bid for Coats's seat". The Hill. Retrieved March 26, 2015.
  16. "Eric Holcomb drops out of Indiana senate race". WRTV. February 8, 2016. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
  17. "Holcomb withdraws from U.S. Senate race". Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  18. Peterson, Mark. "Indiana Lt. Governor Ellsperman plans to resign". WNDU-TV. Retrieved February 11, 2016.
  19. "Eric Holcomb sworn in as lieutenant governor". FOX59. Associated Press. March 3, 2016. Retrieved July 17, 2016.
  20. "GOP chooses Eric Holcomb to replace Pence on ticket". New York Times. December 8, 2016. Retrieved January 2, 2017.
  21. Carden, Dan (December 26, 2017). "Gov. Holcomb pledges civility will guide all his administration does". NWI Times. Retrieved January 29, 2017.
  22. File, Adrianna Pitrelli, The Statehouse. "Holcomb off to fast start, pardons Keith Cooper, declares East Chicago lead emergency". NUVO. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  23. "Governor Eric J. Holcomb: Economic Development Trips". www.in.gov. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  24. "International Citizen of the Year". The International Center. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  25. Kramer, BIll. "Indiana Passes 10-Cents-Per-Gallon Gas Tax Increase". MultiState Insider. Retrieved August 11, 2018.
  26. Bevin, Holcomb seats could switch parties in the upcoming election and in 2020, says National Journal, WHAS-TV, Jeff Burnett, July 25, 2019. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  27. Morning Consult Governor ratings, Morning Consult. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
  28. Evans, Will. "Amazon's internal injury records expose the true toll of its relentless drive for speed". www.revealnews.org. Reveal News. Retrieved November 27, 2019.
  29. Herron, Arrika (November 29, 2019). "Gov. Holcomb demands correction, retraction of Reveal investigation published in IndyStar". The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved November 29, 2019.
  30. Davies, Tom; Smith, Casey (July 23, 2020). "Indiana attorney general argues state mask mandate illegal". Associated Press. Retrieved July 31, 2020.
  31. Bavender, Chris (March 26, 2015). "Republican Eric Holcomb makes US Senate run official". wishtv.com. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  32. McKinney, Matt. "VIDEO: Henry, Indiana's First Dog, stops by RTV6". RTV6. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
Party political offices
Preceded by
Murray Clark		 Chair of the Indiana Republican Party
2010–2013		 Succeeded by
Tim Berry
Preceded by
Mike Pence		 Republican nominee for Governor of Indiana
2016, 2020		 Most recent
Political offices
Preceded by
Sue Ellspermann		 Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
2016–2017		 Succeeded by
Suzanne Crouch
Preceded by
Mike Pence		 Governor of Indiana
2017–present		 Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by
Mike Pence
as Vice President		 Order of Precedence of the United States
Within Indiana		 Succeeded by
Mayor of city
in which event is held
Succeeded by
Otherwise Nancy Pelosi
as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by
John Bel Edwards
as Governor of Louisiana		 Order of Precedence of the United States
Outside Indiana		 Succeeded by
Tate Reeves
as Governor of Mississippi
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