U.S. Sen. Mike Braun is Republican pick for Indiana governor

U.S. Sen. Mike Braun has won the Indiana Republican gubernatorial primary.

And there was little room for suspense: The Associated Press called the race for Braun the minute polls closed in the Indiana's central-time counties, at which time Braun had a double-digit lead over his five opponents. Half an hour later, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, who was in second place, conceded, and urged the GOP to rally behind Braun.

“It’s been an incredible journey,” Crouch told supporters at a watch party in downtown Indianapolis. “As a party, we need to unite behind him to ensure that we keep Indiana on the road to victory in November by electing Mike Braun as the next governor of the state of Indiana."

With about 42% of votes counted across Indiana, Braun has about 39% of the vote, which is 17 percentage points ahead of Crouch. Former commerce Secretary Brad Chambers is at about 17%. Braun is carrying most Indiana counties that have finished tallying, but Chambers is leading in Marion County and Crouch in her home county of Vanderburgh.

Not long after Crouch's concession speech, Chambers released a statement saying he called Braun to congratulate him and offer his support.

"I entered this race because I believe Indiana is a great state, but that with the right leadership, it could be even better," Chambers said. "I hope U.S. Sen. Braun will be the leader Indiana needs and act ambitiously to create more opportunities that will lift up every Hoosier.”

Hoosiers have never seen a primary ballot for governor like this one. That is, one with six choices for the Republican nomination.

Polling throughout the race maintained a comfortable lead for Braun, though with a large portion of primary voters undecided. Several of his opponents, which include Chambers, Crouch, Fort Wayne entrepreneur Eric Doden, former Attorney General Curtis Hill and Indianapolis mother Jamie Reitenour, worked to close that gap with a barrage of advertising and a whole lot of money pumped into this race.

Related: In-depth profiles of all the Republican candidates for governor

Braun will face presumptive Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick, a former state schools superintendent, and Libertarian Donald Rainwater in the general election. They are vying to replace Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, who is term-limited and can't run again.

It's been by far the most expensive primary in Indiana history, given the sheer number of candidates and the electoral math in Indiana that likely makes this the main competition for the governor's mansion. Hoosiers probably noticed the barrage of television ads ― collectively, the candidates purchased at least 40 of them.

The candidates also sparred in four debates throughout March and April, where monologues and lines of attack became familiar for those following along closely. Several candidates hit Braun on his previous position on qualified immunity and his desire to leave the Senate after one term, or they hit Crouch on her association with Gov. Eric Holcomb's administration's response to COVID-19.

More coverage: Indiana governor candidates, minus Mike Braun, tussle with moderator at final debate

Differentiation from one another was a challenge throughout this race, as all are conservative Republicans who broadly agree on a range of issues, from the Second Amendment to abortion.

Broadly speaking, Braun has cited his experience in the Senate and building up his auto parts distributing business in Jasper; Chambers maintained an almost exclusive focus on growing the economy, citing his experience at the Indiana Economic Development Corporation; Crouch frequently touted her headline-grabbing proposal to eliminate the state income tax; Doden's signature platform was a focus on small towns; Hill captured anti-government overreach sentiments that linger from the COVID-19 era; Reitenour has mobilized a more evangelical activist base in a God-centered campaign.

Braun, Chambers, Doden and Crouch led the pack with fundraising and spending to the tune of multiple millions. Chambers helped his coffers with $10 million of his own money. Doden leaned heavily on loans from family members.

Braun, whose name identification among voters is strongest due to his time U.S. Senator, kept a double-digit lead over his opponents even as a few attacks dinged him slightly. Doden hit him the fiercest in attack ads featuring Braun's 2020 qualified immunity reform bill, which many police groups opposed, and for remarks Braun made supporting elements of the Black Lives Matter movement at the time. Another few ads referenced a time Braun missed a critical spending vote in Washington because he was in Indiana, having been to a campaign fundraiser hours earlier.

But Braun had the enviable Donald Trump endorsement early on, which goes a long way with primary voters.

Chambers' support in Marion County is expected ― many of his donors have been Central Indiana CEO-types, and a political action committee called ReCenter Indiana even encouraging Democrats to pull Republican ballots and vote for Chambers, who they deem the most moderate. IndyStar reporters ran into several voters in Marion County who did just that.

Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Mike Braun is GOP pick for Indiana governor