Suzanne Crouch (born February 27, 1952) is an American politician who has served as the 52nd lieutenant governor of Indiana since 2017. She previously served as the 56th state auditor of Indiana from 2014 to 2017. In 2024 she ran for governor of Indiana, losing the primary election to U.S. Senator Mike Braun.
Suzanne Crouch | |
---|---|
52nd Lieutenant Governor of Indiana | |
Assumed office January 9, 2017 | |
Governor | Eric Holcomb |
Preceded by | Eric Holcomb |
56th Auditor of Indiana | |
In office January 2, 2014 – January 9, 2017 | |
Governor | Mike Pence |
Preceded by | Dwayne Sawyer |
Succeeded by | Tera Klutz |
Member of the Indiana House of Representatives from the 78th district | |
In office October 16, 2005 – January 1, 2014 | |
Preceded by | Vaneta Becker |
Succeeded by | Holli Sullivan |
Personal details | |
Born | Evansville, Indiana, U.S. | February 27, 1952
Political party | Republican |
Spouse | Larry Downs |
Children | 1 daughter |
Education | Purdue University (BA) |
A member of the Republican Party, Crouch served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 2005 to 2014. On December 15, 2013, Governor Mike Pence appointed her to serve as the 56th state auditor of Indiana. Crouch was reelected to that position in 2014. She resigned as state auditor following her election as lieutenant governor of Indiana in 2016.
Early life
editCrouch graduated from Mater Dei High School in Evansville[1] and received her Bachelor of Science degree from Purdue University, majoring in political science. Before serving in local government, Crouch chaired the Vanderburgh County Republican Central Committee for four years. Under her chairship, a majority of Republicans were elected to County Council, the first time in 60 years that Republicans had controlled that body.
County government
editCounty Auditor
editCrouch was elected Vanderburgh County Auditor in 1994 and served two terms.
Vanderburgh County Commissioner
editIn 2002, Crouch was elected to the Vanderburgh County Board of Commissioners and served as president until the end of her term in 2005. She worked to televise weekly commission meetings and held public hearings to seek the public's input on important issues. While she was president, the commissioners, for the first time, applied and received federal transportation dollars for a local road project.
Indiana State Representative
editIn 2005 the district 78 seat for state representative was vacated by Vaneta Becker, who had moved to the State Senate to fill the vacated seat of Greg Server. House District 78 contains parts of Spencer, Vanderburgh and Warrick counties. Parts of Evansville, Newburgh, Richland, Hatfield, Darmstadt and McCutchanville are in the district. Crouch was elected to fill the position in a caucus by precinct committeemen. She was appointed vice chair of the Public Health Committee in the state legislature. Crouch was challenged in the 2006 Republican primary by conservative activist Jonathan Fulton, but defeated him with 63% of the vote.
Indiana State Auditor
editAfter Indiana State Auditor Dwayne Sawyer resigned in 2013, Crouch was appointed to fill the position.[2] In 2014, after the completion of Sawyer's term, the Republican Party of Indiana officially nominated Crouch for that year's election. On November 4, Crouch was elected by 23 points over Democratic nominee Mike Claytor, with 59.6% of the vote.[3]
Lieutenant governor
edit2016 election
editAfter Governor Mike Pence was named Donald Trump's running mate in the 2016 presidential election, he had to withdraw from the gubernatorial election. Eric Holcomb, the lieutenant governor of Indiana, was chosen as Republican nominee for governor, and Crouch as the nominee for lieutenant governor.[4]
Electoral history
editIndiana State House of Representatives 78th District Republican primary election, 2006 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Suzanne Crouch (inc.) | 4,032 | 62.68 |
Republican | Jonathan "Jon" Fulton | 2,401 | 37.32 |
Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District election, 2006 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Suzanne Crouch (inc.) | 21,300 | 100.00 |
Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District election, 2008 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Suzanne Crouch (inc.) | 26,510 | 70.27 |
Democratic | James Pete Rapp | 11,214 | 29.73 |
Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District election, 2010 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Suzanne Crouch (inc.) | 20,866 | 75.99 |
Democratic | Steven Smith | 6,594 | 24.01 |
Indiana State House of Representatives 78th District election, 2012 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Suzanne Crouch (inc.) | 21,991 | 100.00 |
Indiana Auditor Election, 2014 | |||
---|---|---|---|
Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
Republican | Suzanne Crouch | 793,633 | 59.62 |
Democratic | Michael Claytor | 479,109 | 35.99 |
Libertarian | John Schick | 58,332 | 4.38 |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch: Biography". 5 January 2022.
- ^ Brandon Smith (December 16, 2013). "Suzanne Crouch Named Third State Auditor In Five Months". indianapublicmedia.org.
- ^ Indiana Secretary of State. "Election Results: Auditor of State".
- ^ "Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb picks Suzanne Crouch as running mate".
External links
edit- Appearances on C-SPAN
- "Biography of Suzanne Crouch". IN.gov. 5 January 2022.
- Profile at Vote Smart