Sen. Mike Braun (R-IN) is ready for the next thing in his public career. The Indiana Republican has seen enough of the Potomac to last a lifetime. He also wants to do something which has become a rarity in Congress. It’s a bipartisan feeling, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) outright saying that the Senate “sucks.” Braun is primed to run for governor of Indiana and be the one who sets the agenda instead of idly waiting, as he does on the Hill, watching paper pushed around that only ends with no law getting passed and very little accomplished. And, when big legislation items are mulled, they’re horrible, like the failed amnesty bill peddled by Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) or the heinous anti-gun package was passed with the help of Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) no less. Braun is 68 and not one to put much stock into accruing seniority or any of the machinations of the Senate that lead to one becoming a big player in the upper chamber.
Politico had a thorough write-up of Braun’s mindset, which led him to say ‘sayonara’ to the Beltway, though he has vowed to remain and serve his full term, which expires the same year he plans to make a run for the governor’s mansion. The only downside is that while Indiana has become a solidly red state—the primary could be nasty, with the publication adding that Reps. Jim Banks (R) and Victoria Spartz (R) might make a run to fill his vacancy. Former Indiana Governor and President of Purdue University Mitch Daniels may also toss his hat into the ring.
Notably, some good Republicans could opt to run for governor, one of them being Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) as incumbent conservative Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards is term-limited. Kennedy must decide soon, as that race begins in 2023. For Braun, one of the things that could do well for him as McConnell has again fallen out of favor with conservative base voters is his independent streak, not going along with his leader on some key bills (via Politico):