INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana State Senator J.D. Ford, along with Lake Station Mayor Bill Carroll, Bloomington City Clerk Nicole Bolden, South Bend City Clerk Bianca Tirado, Indianapolis City County Council Vice President Ali Brown, Monroe County School Board Member April Hennessey, and Bloomington City Councilwoman Sydney Zulich released the following statement after Indiana Republicans nominated far-right pastor Micah Beckwith at their convention on Saturday.

This diverse group of elected officials represent Hoosiers across our state, from Southern Indiana to Lake County, and helped pave the way forward for LGBTQ representation in Indiana.

“We are extremely disappointed and extremely concerned about the direction of our state with Micah Beckwith becoming the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor. Beckwith banned hundreds of books as a local library board member, telling families and students what they can and can’t read, bringing Florida-style politics to our state, and leading to a backlash from parents and students.

“We must reject such extremism that threatens to make our state a pariah on the national level. We can’t roll back the historic civil rights gains supported by the vast majority of Hoosiers. A Braun-Beckwith ticket puts LGBTQ rights, women’s rights, workers’ rights, and more all on the line, and Hoosiers have the power to stop them by electing Jennifer McCormick to the governor’s office this November.”