Indiana is not widely seen as a prime place to foster national political figures. But it should be.
Four years ago, South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg launched an unlikely bid for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. He ran well, capturing a narrow but impressive victory in the Iowa Caucuses and a close second to Senator Bernie Sanders in the New Hampshire Primary a week later.
But the realities of the delegate map caught him in South Carolina, where he ran poorly and decided to drop out and support Joe Biden. Still, it was a remarkable career that brought him into the national political conversation. Biden took note and, after winning the White House, chose him to be Secretary of Transportation.
While Buttigieg was running his new national campaign, veteran Indiana politician Mike Pence was poised to begin a re-election campaign as Donald Trump’s vice president. They were Hoosiers in high places, striving to make a mark for their country and state.
Pence lost his elected office in 2020 when he and Trump were defeated by Biden and his running mate, California Sen. Kamala Harris. His viability as a future Republican presidential nominee was tainted by his fractured relationship with Trump, who had pushed Pence to unsuccessfully refuse to certify Biden’s victory in Congress, sparking the violent insurrection of Trump supporters Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Undeterred by Trump’s ire, Pence recently launched his bid for the GOP presidential nomination against a slew of contenders, including Trump, who remains the front-runner.
Gaining traction will be a challenge for Pence in this crowded primary field. But his presence in the race marks the third consecutive presidential campaign in which a Hoosier has played a prominent role.
The high-profile candidacies draw substantial attention to the state, and Hoosiers have reason to be thankful for that. As a reliably red state, presidential candidates have little reason to visit except for the occasional fundraiser. Native sons or daughters always have a special bond with their home states. This is good for the people of Indiana across the political spectrum.
Indiana has a history of its politicians standing out on the national stage. Two, William Henry Harrison and Benjamin Harrison, became president. Wendell Willkie, of Elwood, was the Republican candidate in 1940; Huntington’s Dan Quayle was George HW Bush’s vice president. Birch Bayh of Terre Haute was a strong contender for the 1976 Democratic nomination that was eventually won by Jimmy Carter.
Buttigieg has since moved to Michigan, but his political roots remain in Hoosier soil. Pence’s political career will likely last beyond the 2024 campaign, whatever happens with his candidacy.
Having local politicians operating effectively at such high levels of politics is not something Hoosiers should take for granted. Their presence elevates the state in the political landscape and represents it well, whichever party they represent.
The Tribune-Star, Terre Haute
