Mike Braun

Mike Braun
Braun in 2025
Mike Braun
Born	Michael Kent Braun 24 3, 1954
Birthplace	Jasper, Indiana, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Businessman, politician
Title	52nd Governor of Indiana
Known for	52nd Governor of Indiana, U.S. Senator from Indiana (2019–2025)
Education	Wabash College (BA) Harvard University (MBA)
Children	4

Michael Kent Braun (born March 24, 1954) is an American businessman and politician serving as the 52nd governor of Indiana since January 2025. A member of the Republican Party, Braun previously represented Indiana in the United States Senate from 2019 to 2025 and served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2014 to 2017, representing the 63rd district. Born and raised in Jasper, Indiana, Braun built a career in business before entering politics relatively late in life. He earned a degree in economics from Wabash College and a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Braun first won elected office in 2014 when he was chosen for the Indiana House of Representatives. He gained national attention in 2018 when he defeated Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly to win a seat in the U.S. Senate. After one term in the Senate, Braun successfully ran for governor in 2024, defeating Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian nominee Donald Rainwater by a margin of 13.3 percentage points — the largest margin in an open-seat gubernatorial election in Indiana since 1980. As governor, Braun has focused on issues including immigration enforcement, transportation infrastructure, and energy policy.

Early Life

Michael Kent Braun was born on March 24, 1954, in Jasper, Indiana, a small city in Dubois County in the southern part of the state. Braun grew up in Jasper, which is known as a center of furniture manufacturing and has a strong German-American heritage. He has a brother, Steve Braun, who also became involved in Indiana Republican politics. The relationship between the two brothers on the political stage drew media attention; a report by Roll Call noted that the Braun brothers maintained a degree of distance from one another on the campaign trail despite both being active in Indiana politics.

Before entering politics, Braun was a member of the Democratic Party, a fact that later became a point of discussion during his Republican primary campaigns. He switched his party registration to Republican in 2012. Braun built a career as a businessman in southern Indiana, establishing himself as an entrepreneur in the region before seeking public office.

Education

Braun attended Wabash College, a private liberal arts college for men located in Crawfordsville, Indiana, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in economics. He subsequently attended Harvard Business School, where he earned a Master of Business Administration degree. The combination of a liberal arts education and a graduate business degree from one of the nation's leading business schools provided Braun with a foundation that he later applied to both his business ventures in southern Indiana and his political career. During his campaigns, Braun frequently referenced his educational background as evidence of his capacity for both analytical thinking and practical business management.

Career

Business Career

Before entering public life, Braun established himself as a businessman in Jasper, Indiana. He founded and led a business enterprise in the region, building a reputation in the southern Indiana business community. His experience as a business owner and employer became a central element of his political identity, and he frequently cited his private-sector experience as distinguishing him from career politicians. Braun's business background was a recurring theme in his campaigns for the Indiana House of Representatives, the United States Senate, and the governorship, as he positioned himself as an outsider who could bring entrepreneurial sensibilities to government.

Indiana House of Representatives (2014–2017)

Braun entered electoral politics in 2014 when he ran for the Indiana House of Representatives in the 63rd district, succeeding Mark Messmer. He won the seat and served in the Indiana House from November 2014 until November 2017. During his tenure in the state legislature, Braun worked on issues relevant to his district in southern Indiana. He was succeeded in the 63rd district by Shane Lindauer when he departed to pursue higher office.

His time in the Indiana House, while relatively brief, gave Braun experience in the legislative process and provided a platform from which to launch his bid for the United States Senate. His service in the state legislature also helped him build relationships within the Indiana Republican Party, which would prove valuable in his subsequent campaigns.

United States Senate Campaign (2018)

In 2017, Braun announced his candidacy for the United States Senate seat held by Democratic incumbent Joe Donnelly. The 2018 Indiana Senate race attracted national attention as one of the most competitive contests of that election cycle. Donnelly was considered one of the more vulnerable Democratic incumbents, representing a state that had voted for Donald Trump by a wide margin in the 2016 presidential election.

Braun faced a competitive Republican primary before advancing to the general election. He campaigned as a political outsider and businessman, drawing contrasts with both his primary opponents and with Donnelly. His campaign emphasized his business experience and his support for President Trump's agenda. Braun ultimately won the general election, defeating Donnelly and flipping the seat to Republican control.

United States Senate (2019–2025)

Braun was sworn into the United States Senate on January 3, 2019, as the junior senator from Indiana. During his single term in the Senate, he served on several committees, including holding the position of Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging from January 2023 to January 2025.

Policy Positions

During his time in the Senate, Braun staked out positions on a range of domestic and international policy issues. He opposed the Affordable Care Act and sought efforts to repeal or modify the law. On social issues, Braun expressed opposition to same-sex marriage and abortion. On immigration, he opposed a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants.

On environmental policy, Braun distinguished himself from many of his Republican colleagues by calling on the party to take climate change more seriously, although his specific policy prescriptions remained within the mainstream of conservative environmental thought. He sought to position himself as a Republican who acknowledged the reality of climate change while favoring market-based solutions rather than expansive government regulation.

On trade policy, Braun's positions evolved during his time in the Senate. He had previously been an advocate of free trade, but he came to support President Donald Trump's trade and tariff policies during his Senate tenure. This shift reflected broader changes within the Republican Party on trade issues during the Trump era.

Impeachment Vote

In February 2020, during the first impeachment trial of Donald Trump related to the Trump–Ukraine scandal, Braun voted to acquit Trump on both articles of impeachment. His vote was consistent with the majority of Republican senators and aligned with his general support for the Trump administration's agenda.

2024 Gubernatorial Campaign

Rather than seeking reelection to the Senate, Braun announced his candidacy for governor of Indiana in the 2024 election cycle. The seat was open due to the term limits that prevented incumbent Governor Eric Holcomb from seeking a third consecutive term. Braun won the Republican primary and advanced to the general election, where he faced Democratic nominee Jennifer McCormick, a former Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction, and Libertarian nominee Donald Rainwater.

Braun won the general election with a margin of 13.3 percentage points, a result that represented the largest margin of victory in an open-seat gubernatorial election in Indiana since 1980. His lieutenant governor is Micah Beckwith.

Governor of Indiana (2025–present)

Braun was inaugurated as the 52nd governor of Indiana on January 13, 2025, succeeding Eric Holcomb.

Immigration and Law Enforcement

As governor, Braun has made immigration enforcement a significant focus of his administration. In February 2026, following a fatal crash allegedly involving an undocumented immigrant, Braun announced a crackdown on illegally issued Commercial Driver's Licenses (CDLs). The governor's initiative included plans to revoke improperly issued CDLs and to impose fines of up to $50,000 on trucking carriers that employ drivers holding such licenses. Braun worked with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita on the CDL enforcement initiative.

The governor's immigration-related policies generated public protest. In February 2026, demonstrators marched to the Indiana Governor's Residence in Indianapolis to protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations in the state.

Braun discussed his administration's CDL enforcement measures and immigration stance on national media, including an appearance on Fox News Live in February 2026.

Energy and Agriculture

Braun has pursued energy policies of interest to Indiana's agricultural sector. In February 2026, he pushed for permanent year-round availability of E15 fuel, a blend containing 15 percent ethanol. The initiative was intended to benefit Indiana's corn producers and the state's ethanol industry.

Transportation and Infrastructure

The Braun administration has put forward proposals related to highway construction and transportation spending that have drawn scrutiny from the Indiana General Assembly. In February 2026, Indiana legislators began examining proposals to give the legislature greater oversight of large highway projects, a move prompted in part by opposition to infrastructure plans in southern Indiana included in the governor's agenda.

National Profile

As governor, Braun has participated in national discussions on policy issues facing state executives. In February 2026, he appeared on Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan alongside Governors Laura Kelly of Kansas, Andy Beshear of Kentucky, and Mike DeWine of Ohio, during the National Governors Association's annual gathering in Washington, D.C.

Personal Life

Mike Braun has lived for most of his life in Jasper, Indiana, where he was born and raised. He and his wife have four children. His brother, Steve Braun, has also been involved in Indiana Republican politics, though the two have largely maintained separate political identities.

Braun was registered as a Democrat before switching his party affiliation to Republican in 2012. His party switch became a topic of discussion during his 2018 Senate primary campaign, when opponents questioned his Republican credentials. Braun maintained that his conservative values had remained consistent and that his party registration change reflected the broader political realignment occurring in Indiana and the nation.

Braun's roots in southern Indiana and his career as a businessman in the Jasper area have been defining features of his public identity. He has emphasized his connection to rural Indiana and the values of the small-business community throughout his political career.

Recognition

Braun's 2018 Senate victory was considered one of the notable Republican wins of that election cycle, as he defeated an incumbent Democratic senator in a state that had been trending toward the Republican Party. His subsequent election as governor in 2024 by a margin of 13.3 percentage points further cemented his standing within Indiana Republican politics.

During his Senate tenure, Braun served as Ranking Member of the Senate Special Committee on Aging from 2023 to 2025, a position that gave him a prominent role in policy discussions related to healthcare, retirement security, and issues affecting older Americans.

As governor, Braun has maintained a national profile through participation in bipartisan governors' forums and appearances on national news programs. His role in the National Governors Association has placed him among the group of state executives engaged in discussions of federal-state relations on issues including immigration, infrastructure, and energy policy.