Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jennifer McCormick made a campaign town hall appearance in Muncie Wednesday.  As IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports, McCormick’s strongest stance of the night was against the current state of reproductive rights in Indiana.

Jennifer McCormick called Indiana’s near-total abortion ban “extreme” and believes access to contraceptives would be in danger under her opponent’s administration.

“Over 80 percent of Hoosiers support women having their right to choose. That is a signal of whether you trust women or you don’t. And this election is clear. I trust women. My opponent does not. It’s that simple.”

The former State Superintendent of Public Education – and the last person elected into that position before it became an appointed office – pointed to the amount of money that she says has been transferred out of public schools with the state’s school choice voucher program.

Read More: Democratic governor candidate Jennifer McCormick unveils five-pillar education plan

McCormick also talked about her history as a Republican, the party she identified as until 2016.  She says with Indiana’s near-two decade history as a red state, this will help her appeal to more moderate members of the GOP.

“There are so many Republicans who come up to me and say, I’m just like you. You know, I may not be called a Democrat right now, but I am just like you.”

Indiana is one of 18 states that has never had a female governor.

Indiana’s voter registration deadline is October 7. 

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu.