Governor Mike Braun's Inauguration

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Governor Mike Braun's Inauguration

Braun alongside wife Maureen and Chief Justice Loretta Rush

By Nathaniel Smith, Editor

On Monday, January 13 at 11 a.m., Indiana officially welcomed in the state's 52nd governor. Governor Mike Braun, Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith and Attorney General Todd Rokita were sworn in yesterday morning and were met with a resounding applause at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in Indianapolis.

Attorney General Todd Rokita was first to be sworn in. Eager to begin his next term, he spoke of the various accomplishments on his record. Rokita has been committed to fighting for what Hoosiers believe in, and he is not planning on stopping anytime soon. His history of persistence is of great value to the State of Indiana.

“Some of you may not always agree with me,” said Rokita. “But one thing we can always agree on is that I’m never wishy-washy.”

After Rokita had been sworn in, the focus moved to Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith. Beckwith is not an average career politician; he is a regular Hoosier and small business owner. He credits his down-to-earth nature and his love for Indiana to how he was raised and his 15 years serving as a Worship Pastor.

“My mission is clear: to make Indiana a shining example of what a conservative state can achieve—a place where every Hoosier has the opportunity to thrive,” said Beckwith.

Then, it was time for the spotlight to hit Governor Mike Braun. Born in Jasper, Indiana in 1954, Braun began his career by being a main street entrepreneur. In his earlier days, he was focused on building a business that ended up creating thousands of jobs in Indiana. Later in 2018, he was elected to the U.S. Senate, and now he is the Governor of the Hoosier state. Throughout his career, Braun has led more than 35 bills into law and was recently named the most effective first-term Republican Senator.

“I am committed to be a Governor of not just words, but action, as we create a prosperous future for all Hoosiers. It will take teamwork. It will take partnership. It will take collaboration. This is why we should all feel a spirit of optimism. Now it's time to get to work. Thank you, and may God bless our great state,” said Braun.

Below, you can find an excerpt of Governor Braun’s inaugural speech in addition to photos from the event. If you are interested in viewing the speech in its entirety, click Here.

Excerpt from "The Crossroads of Freedom and Opportunity" by Governor Mike Braun

Madam Chief Justice, Governor Holcomb, Lt. Governor Beckwith, Governor Bayh, General Rokita, President Pro Tem Bray, Speaker Huston, Maureen, family, friends, fellow Hoosiers:

It is with immense gratitude that I stand before you to accept the honor of serving as Indiana's 52nd governor.

On such a momentous occasion, I must acknowledge both our state's storied history and its bright future.

For 208 years and counting, Indiana has been a home for hard-working Hoosiers, small business owners, aspiring titans of industry, teachers, non profit leaders, and many others. From the earliest days of our statehood, our settlers and immigrants were risk-takers and trailblazers who built the state we recognize today. Yes! They embarked westward seeking a new start, fertile land, freedom, and opportunity.

Through honest hard work, they built homes, fed their families, and cultivated the strong communities we take pride in every day.

When I walk through the woods near my home in Jasper, I do it often. I think of these early pioneers who built our great state out of the wilderness. These hard-working Hoosiers gazed upon the same forests when they established Vincennes as our territorial capital in 1800, and Corydon as our first state capital.

Our early settlers faced a crossroads: retreat in fear of the challenges this new land would bring, or view the vast contours of our state as an opportunity worth embracing? History reveals they listened to the voice of inner resolve that said a path not yet taken is a path to be pursued.

These aims of our founders were not all that different from ours today.

Our great nation will soon observe 250 years of prosperity, and Indiana will have been an integral piece for most of those years. From our Hoosier veterans who fought for the Union in the Civil War or stormed the beaches of Normandy in World War II, to the everyday heroes who currently stand at the ready, Hoosiers have always been willing to step up to protect our families, friends, and neighbors. That's what we’re about. We do not take that commitment for granted.

Undeterred by challenging periods throughout our history, Hoosiers have emerged stronger after every trial. We have grown from the dirt roads of Vincennes into the Crossroads of America. From the farms to factories, our entrepreneurs have created thriving small businesses and some of the most important operations on Earth, supporting critical industries and the daily lives of American citizens. In the face of any challenge, Hoosiers have stepped up to take our state to unprecedented heights, and we’re not going to stop.

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