GOP Civil War: Former Republican Lt. Gov. Accuses Gov. Eric Holcomb Of Caving to Pressure From Trump to Block No-Excuse Absentee Voting

“What I see here is pressure from the White House, that is what is going on in the state of Indiana right now.”

Hoosiers across the state are calling on Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb to enact no-excuse absentee voting during the COVID-19 pandemic, including a prominent member of his own party. Former Republican Lt. Governor John Mutz is calling on Holcomb to do the right thing and expand mail-in voting during the pandemic.

Mutz accused Holcomb and other state officials of caving to political pressure from President Trump, who has threatened other states with lawsuits for implementing universal vote-by-mail. But as the Lt. Gov pointed out – the majority of Americans approve of mail-in voting. Even President Trump’s own pollsters found broad support for no-excuse absentee voting.

In addition to pressure from his fellow Republicans, Holcomb is also battling legal challenges to Indiana’s election procedures. Yesterday, Common Cause Indiana and the Indiana NAACP sued the state for its “unjustifiably early” deadline to return absentee ballots. And there are two more pending lawsuits in federal court against Indiana’s election rules.

Holcomb’s opponent, Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Woody Myers, fully supports expanding access to mail-in voting and safe in-person polling places during the pandemic.

“Eric Holcomb is cowering to the president and refusing to grant Hoosiers access to safe, fair, democratic elections,” said DGA National Press Secretary Jerusalem Demsas. “Holcomb needs to listen to his fellow Republicans and expand voting access during the pandemic. No one should have to choose between their health and their right to vote.”