Micah Beckwith
{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Micah Beckwith
| office = 53rd Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
| governor = Mike Braun
| term_start = January 13, 2025
| term_end =
| predecessor = Suzanne Crouch
| successor =
| birth_date = {{birth year and age|1982|8}}
| birth_place = Hillsdale, Michigan, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Republican
| spouse = Susan Beckwith
| children = 2
| education = Huntington University (BA)
| image = Beckwith Headshot.jpg
| caption = Official portrait, 2025
}}
Micah Beckwith (born August 1982) is an American pastor and politician serving as the 53rd lieutenant governor of Indiana since 2025. A member of the Republican Party, he won the 2024 election as the running mate of Mike Braun.
Early life and education
Beckwith is from Hillsdale, Michigan, and graduated from Huntington University with a Bachelor of Arts in business economics.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wrtv.com/news/politics/your-guide-to-indianas-5th-district-primary-candidates|title=Your guide to Indiana's 5th District primary candidates|date=May 25, 2020|website=WRTV Indianapolis}} He is a pastor at Life Church in Noblesville, Indiana, and he calls himself a Christian nationalist.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/hamilton-county/2024/01/12/indiana-pastor-micah-beckwith-book-removal-policy-hamilton-county-resigns-hepl-library-board/72202384007/|title=Micah Beckwith, pastor who led book removal policy in HamCo, resigns from library board|first=John|last=Tuohy|website=The Indianapolis Star}}
Political career
Beckwith sought the Republican Party's nomination for {{ushr|IN|5}} in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections.{{Cite web|url=https://thetimes24-7.com/2022/04/1-in-10-hoosiers-identify-with-at-least-one-sign-of-alcoholism/|title=1 in 10 Hoosiers Identify with at Least One Sign of Alcoholism|first=The Times of|last=Noblesville|date=April 13, 2022|website=The Times of Noblesville}} He finished in third place with 13.1% of the vote, losing to Victoria Spartz.{{Cite web|url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/local/indianapolis/2020/06/02/indiana-5th-district-election-results/5284950002/|title=Spartz, Hale claim victory in Indiana 5th District|first=Kaitlin|last=Lange|website=The Indianapolis Star}}
The Hamilton County, Indiana county council appointed Beckwith to a vacant seat on the Hamilton East Public Library board of trustees on September 7, 2022. Beckwith's appointment attracted local controversy due to his stated views on LGBTQ issues, and his belief that public school students were being taught "gay" and "oral sex" and being "indoctrinated with Marxist ideology." In comments to The Indianapolis Star, Beckwith denied charges that he had an "agenda to censor books."{{cite news |last1=Tuohy |first1=John |title=Hamilton East library board choice sparks furor: Critics question process, say conservative pastor will try to ban books |url=https://www.proquest.com/indianapolisstar/docview/2724940914/83F9FB4211EE4510PQ/30?accountid=57461&sourcetype=Newspapers |work=Indianapolis Star |date=October 16, 2022}} During his tenure, Beckwith supported revisions to the library's collection development policy that barred materials containing "depictions of sex, violence and repeated profanity" from being shelved in the library's young adult section. Nearly 2,000 titles were relocated as a result of the policy. The board suspended the new policy in August 2023 following public backlash that attracted national press attention and criticism from local authors such as John Green.{{cite news |last1=Appleton |first1=Rory |title=Kids' books under fire at Noblesville library |url=https://www.proquest.com/indianapolisstar/docview/2810285224/83F9FB4211EE4510PQ/32?accountid=57461&sourcetype=Newspapers |work=The Indianapolis Star |date=May 7, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Gaines |first1=Lee V. |title=After criticism from John Green, HEPL library pauses policy to review, reshelve teen books |url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/john-green-fault-in-stars-hepl-hamilton-east-library-teen--policy-suspends |work=WFYI Indianapolis |date=August 24, 2023}} The board subsequently voted to repeal the new policy in December 2023 following the resignation of several conservative board members. Beckwith resigned from the board of trustees in January 2024 in order to pursue his candidacy for lieutenant governor.
= Lieutenant Governor of Indiana =
In 2023, Beckwith announced his candidacy for lieutenant governor of Indiana in the 2024 election.{{Cite web|url=https://readthereporter.com/micah-beckwith-announces-run-for-lt-governor/|title=Micah Beckwith announces run for Lt. Governor|first=The|last=Reporter}} Beckwith faced Julie McGuire for the nomination, and won with 891 votes against McGuire's 828.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/pastor-micah-beckwith-is-indiana-gop-nominee-for-lieutenant-governor-beating-mike-brauns-pick|title=Pastor Micah Beckwith is Indiana GOP nominee for lieutenant governor, beating Mike Braun's pick|first=Brandon|last=Smith|date=June 15, 2024|website=WFYI Public Media}} He won the election on a ticket with U.S. senator Mike Braun, defeating the Democratic Party nominees Jennifer McCormick and Terry Goodin.{{cite news |title=Mike Braun wins Indiana governor race, Micah Beckwith to be lieutenant governor |first=Jack |last=Forrest |work=Indiana Daily Student |date=November 5, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |url=https://www.idsnews.com/article/2024/11/mike-braun-elected-indiana-governor-2024}}
During the gubernatorial campaign, Beckwith said that McCormick's campaign and its support of abortion rights and gender-affirming care represented "boldness for immorality" and the "Jezebel spirit", and additionally referred to pro-choice Hoosiers as "demonic". In response, the Indiana Democratic Party called the Braun-Beckwith ticket a "woman hating campaign". Beckwith later said that his comparison of the Indiana Democratic ticket to the Jezebel spirit had "nothing to do with being a woman or not."{{cite web |last=Dwyer |first=Kayla |title=Lt. Gov. candidate Micah Beckwith compares Indiana Democrats to the 'Jezebel spirit' |website=The Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/10/02/why-micah-beckwith-comparing-indiana-democrats-to-jezebel-spirit-matters/75469840007/ |date=October 2, 2024 |access-date=May 8, 2025}}
In November 2024, Beckwith addressed a story posted in Indiana University's student newspaper, the Indiana Daily Student, in a post on X. The front-page story featured president-elect Donald Trump and critical remarks made about him by former members of his cabinet. He called the IDS story "WOKE propaganda" and wrote that "[t]his type of elitist leftist propaganda needs to stop or we will be happy to stop it for them."{{cite web |last=Rosenzweig |first=Brian |title=Can the lieutenant governor defund the Indiana Daily Student? What to know. |website=The Herald-Times |url=https://www.heraldtimesonline.com/story/news/local/2024/11/14/indiana-lieutenant-governor-elect-beckwith-calls-out-indiana-daily-student/76263146007/ |date=November 14, 2024 |access-date=March 6, 2025}} In an email to local NBC News affiliate WTHR, Beckwith said he would ensure the IDS "receives no taxpayer support directly or indirectly", though the newspaper's co-editor in chief noted that it receives no taxpayer funds.{{cite web |last=Longnecker |first=Emily |title=Indiana Daily Student responds to criticism from Lieutenant Governor-elect Micah Beckwith |website=WTHR |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/politics/indiana-daily-student-responds-to-criticism-from-lieutenant-governor-elect-micah-beckwith-donald-trump-free-speech-issue-election-mike-braun/531-6c43caf9-245b-4885-9ede-0d6d308ce21e |date=November 14, 2024 |access-date=March 6, 2025}} In a follow-up interview with the IDS, Beckwith stated he would protect the newspaper's free speech rights if he felt the stories run by the paper were "fair".{{cite web |last=Adamson |first=Hannah |title=IU student newspaper responds to Lt. Governor-elect Beckwith’s public rebuke |website=Fox 59 |url=https://fox59.com/news/politics/iu-student-newspaper-responds-to-lt-governor-elect-beckwiths-public-rebuke/ |date=November 15, 2024 |access-date=March 22, 2025}}
In April 2025, Democrats in the Indiana Senate argued against Indiana Senate Bill 289, an anti-DEI measure, comparing it to the Three-fifths Compromise. Beckwith responded to the argument by defending the Three-fifths Compromise, calling it "a great move" and saying that the policy "helped to root out slavery". His comments were condemned by the Alliance of Baptists, the Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis, and the Indiana chapter of the National Action Network in a joint statement that called Beckwith's interpretation of the compromise "historical revisionism".{{cite web |last=Raji |first=Tobi |title=Indiana lieutenant governor calls Three-Fifths Compromise ‘a great move’ |website=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/04/26/beckwith-indiana-three-fifths-compromise/ |date=April 26, 2025 |access-date=April 28, 2025}} Beckwith defended his comments in an interview several days later, stating "I said exactly what needed to be said." Governor Mike Braun was critical of Beckwith's remarks, saying he "definitely wouldn't have used that characterization", and Indiana state representative Earl Harris Jr. called Beckwith's statements "a gross misunderstanding of history" and "purposeful whitewashing of [history] for political gain".{{cite web |last=Dwyer |first=Kayla |title='I don't like it': Gov. Mike Braun rebukes Beckwith for Three-Fifths Compromise comments |website=The Indianapolis Star |url=https://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2025/04/30/i-dont-like-it-gov-braun-on-three-fifths-compromise-comments/83372156007/ |date=May 1, 2025 |access-date=May 2, 2025}}
Personal life
Beckwith lives in Noblesville, Indiana, with his wife Susan and their two children.{{cite news |title=Beckwith prevails in Republican lieutenant governor race over Braun's choice |first=Tom |last=Davies |work=State Affairs Pro |date=June 15, 2024 |access-date=November 19, 2024 |url=https://pro.stateaffairs.com/in/elections/indiana-republican-lieutenant-governor-2}} Susan was crowned Miss Indiana in 2005.{{cite news |title=Guilkey crowned Miss Indiana |first=|last=|work=Huntington University |date=June 26, 2005 |access-date=May 8, 2025 |url=https://www.huntington.edu/news/guilkey-crowned-miss-indiana}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Suzanne Crouch}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor of Indiana|years=2024}}
{{s-inc|recent}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=Suzanne Crouch}}
{{s-ttl|title=Lieutenant Governor of Indiana|years=2025–present}}
{{s-inc}}
{{s-end}}
{{Current Indiana statewide political officials}}
{{Current U.S. Lieutenant Governors}}
{{Current U.S. State Senate Presidents}}
{{Lieutenant Governor of Indiana}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beckwith, Micah}}
Category:21st-century American Christian clergy
Category:21st-century Indiana politicians
Category:Candidates in the 2020 United States House of Representatives elections
Category:Christian nationalists
Category:Christians from Indiana
Category:Huntington University (United States) alumni