Westercamp releases growing list of GOP AG endorsements

With the 2020 party conventions less than a year away, Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill’s challenger to become the Republican AG candidate says he has a growing list of supporters within the Indiana GOP.

John Westercamp, a Bose McKinney & Evans attorney, said Tuesday he has received more than 120 public endorsements from Hoosier Republicans.

Westercamp announced in June that he would challenge Hill to become the GOP attorney general nominee.

The attorney – who says he has visited all of Indiana’s 92 counties once and is about a third of the way through doing so again – issued a press release Tuesday listing his supporters, which include local Republican officeholders and party leaders. Among those endorsing Westercamp are state Rep. Dave Heine and former University of Indianapolis President Gene E. Sease.

Westercamp also highlighted an endorsement from veteran Republican Party leader and former Trump for Indiana Chairman Rex Early.

Earlier this year, Westercamp released another press release showing endorsements from former Congressman David McIntosh, as well as Reps. Mike Speedy and Tim Wesco and Sen. Eric Bassler.

“I am honored to gain the support of conservative grassroots Republicans around the state,” the Bose attorney said in the news release.

Campaign finance reports show that Westercamp’s campaign had about $41,000 on hand as of June 30, the last date data is available through the Indiana Secretary of State’s Office. The campaign received contributions totaling $56,179.09 through that time and spent $15,232.91.

Hill — who did not officially announce his reelection bid until last month — had $187,326.11 in his campaign war chest as of Aug. 12, according to the Secretary of State. That’s down from the $206,000 his campaign had available as of June 30.

According to campaign finance documents, the AG began his campaign with $120,957.28, has received $255,751 in contributions and has spent $189,382.17.

The selection of the Republican AG candidate will likely be overshadowed by the sexual misconduct accusations against Hill, who is currently awaiting the outcome of a disciplinary case stemming from allegations that he drunkenly groped four women at a party in March 2018.

Political leaders from both parties, including Gov. Eric Holcomb, House Speaker Brian Bosma and former Senate President Pro Tempore David Long – all Republicans – called on Hill to resign after the allegations became public. However, testifying on the stand during Hill’s disciplinary hearing, Bosma said he still considers Hill a friend, though he wasn’t sure if the AG reciprocated.

Also vying to become Indiana’s next attorney general are State Sen. Karen Tallian of Ogden Dunes and former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel, both Democrats. Tallian announced her candidacy in August, saying “Curtis Hill has to go,” while Weinzapfel announced his AG bid last week.

Campaign finance reports are not yet available for either Democratic campaign, though Tallian’s Senate campaign had about $61,500 on hand as of Jan. 11, 2019.

Weinzapfel formerly served as a state representative in the early 2000s, but that committee has long since been disbanded.

Like the Republican nominee, the Democratic nominee for the Indiana attorney general candidacy will be selected at the party’s convention this summer.