GOP holds on to Indiana governorship

First-time GOP candidate Eric Holcomb is projected to defeat former state House Speaker John Gregg (D) in Indiana’s tightly contested gubernatorial race.

{mosads}Holcomb will succeed Republican Gov. Mike Pence, now the party’s vice presidential nominee.

Holcomb pulled out a victory against his Democratic challenger, who had a double-digit lead as recently as last month, according to a poll by Monmouth University.

Holcomb was thrust into the race in late July after Pence was tapped to be Donald Trump’s running mate. He has never been elected to office, and became Pence’s lieutenant governor eight months ago.

Gregg narrowly lost to Pence during the last election and was seen as Democrats’ strongest challenge to the GOP’s 12-year reign in the Indiana governor’s mansion.