Pence, Gregg File For 2016 Election

INDIANAPOLIS – Both candidates for governor in the 2016 race filed to have their names officially placed on the ballot Wednesday.

Republican Gov. Mike Pence dropped off a box full of petitions at the Secretary of State’s office.

“The last three years of our life has been the greatest privilege,” said Pence, “and the progress that our state has made – 139,000 new jobs, progress in our schools, progress in our health care and infrastructure are all things we’re proud of. But we know there’s still work to be done.”

Pence avoided questions about how the death of the LGBT civil rights bill could affect the election.

“I think it will be up to the people of Indiana what issues dominate this coming campaign,” he said.

Gregg, however, took a strong stance in a statement Tuesday.

“Never has the intolerance of so few, hurt the reputation of so many,” said Gregg. “The failure of Governor Pence to provide any leadership to address the crisis he created is inexcusable.  Until we update Indiana’s civil rights statute our economy and reputation will continue to suffer. I remain committed to adding four words and a comma to our civil rights code so, together, all Hoosiers can move forward.”

As the campaign trail heats up, Pence said he won’t engage in personal attacks, but if Gregg decides to talk about his record, Pence said he’s prepared to “return the favor.”

Gregg, a former House speaker and former president of Vincennes University, filed paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office earlier in the day. He turned in more than 8,000 signatures from each of the state’s 92 counties.

The upcoming election will be a rematch. Gregg, a Democrat, narrowly lost to Pence in the 2012 gubernatorial race.

Pence may face an uphill battle this year. The WISH-TV/Ball State Hoosier Survey, published in November, showed 47 percent of people in Indiana approve of Pence’s performance as governor and 35 percent disapprove of the job he’s doing.

Rachel Hoffmeyer is the Executive Editor of TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.