Rokita Defeats Weinzapfel To Become Attorney General

Republican Todd Rokita has won the race for Indiana attorney general, beating Democrat Jonathan Weinzapfel.

Rokita, former Secretary of State and four-term congressman, secures Republican control over the statewide office for the sixth consecutive election. Democrats haven’t won the position since 1996.

Rokita issued a written statement as he watched election results from home Tuesday after his campaign announced he had tested positive for COVID-19. In it, he pledged to provide what he calls “pro-growth, limited government leadership” and vowed to defend police and First and Second Amendment rights.

Weinzapfel also opted not to speak and only issued a written statement. He said he’s proud of the issues he raised – particularly his proposal to legalize marijuana and his defense of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb’s COVID-19 restrictions.

There was a brighter spotlight on the campaign this cycle because of the current officeholder, Curtis Hill. The Indiana Supreme Court temporarily suspended Hill’s law license earlier this year after it said he criminally battered four women.

Indiana Republican Party state convention delegates narrowly chose Rokita as their nominee over Hill.

Rokita has promised to restore normalcy to the office while hewing to the same kind of conservative principles Hill did.

This story has been updated with written comments from candidates.

Contact reporter Brandon at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow him on Twitter at @brandonjsmith5.