The Republican party chose its three candidates for statewide office today at its state convention in Fort Wayne.
The party nominated Connie Lawson to run for secretary of state, Suzanne Crouch to run for auditor and Kelly Mitchell for treasurer.
"The 2014 Republican statewide ticket is made up of qualified and hard-working Hoosiers who are ready to lead our team to victory in November," Indiana Republican Party Chairman Tim Berry said in a statement. "Our state convention energized our Party now, more than ever before. We have three women with outstanding credentials who have been nominated to be at the top of our ticket to continue Indiana's success story."
Gov. Mike Pence called the three candidates "great public servants with a proven track record."
Lawson is the current secretary of state. Then-Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed her to the office after Charlie White was convicted of voter fraud.
Crouch is the GOP's current auditor, although she was never elected. She took over after Dwayne Sawyer stepped down unexpectedly, after just three months on the job.
The treasurer position was the only contested race.
Mitchell faced Marion Mayor Wayne Seybold and financial adviser Don Bates for the nomination, which led to multiple votes before delegates decided on a candidate.
The first ballot was a relative toss-up, and while the second ballot showed Mitchell gaining votes, no one received a majority.
According to the rules, Bates was dropped after the second vote.
Mitchell handily won the nomination on the third ballot, which she says was the result of intense campaigning by her team before and during the convention.
"What I really found that worked is just delegate by delegate, conversation by conversation our delegates really do the research," she says. "They really care about who they elect, and they appreciated a candidate with experience in the office and experience in local government."
If elected in November's General Election, Mitchell would take over for Treasurer Richard Mourdock, who is term limited.
The Democrats nominated their choices for the three offices at their convention last weekend.
They nominated Marion County Clerk Beth White for secretary of state, certified public accountant Michael Claytor for auditor and former Illinois lawmaker Mike Boland for treasurer.
