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Former Indiana attorney general Curtis Hill will seek the Republican nomination for governor, he announced Monday on Twitter.
The move sets up a 2024 primary showdown in a field that already includes Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Sen. Mike Braun and Fort Wayne businessman Eric Doden.
“Hoosiers are hungry for fresh, conservative leadership,” Hill tweeted. “I look forward to the coming weeks as we share our message with Hoosiers up and down Indiana!”
Hill’s one term as the state attorney general was marred by accusations from four women that he drunkenly groped them during a party in 2018. The accusations came to light in 2018 via an IndyStar investigation.
Hill denied any wrongdoing, but the Indiana Supreme Court ordered a 30-day suspension of his law license in May 2020, finding he committed misdemeanor battery. He also faced calls from Gov. Eric Holcomb and others in the Republican Party to resign.
His four accusers — former state representative Mara Candelaria Reardon, a northern Indiana Democrat, and former legislative staffers Gabrielle McLemore Brock, Niki DaSilva and Samantha Lozano — initiated civil proceedings in both federal and state court. Hill was eventually terminated as a defendant from the federal lawsuit, then won summary judgment on defamation and invasion of privacy claims in state court. The parties also agreed to dismiss the federal case with prejudice.
Hill has made other comeback attempts following the suspension of his law license, including a reelection bid in 2020, but Indiana Republicans backed now-Attorney General Todd Rokita.
Hill also mounted an unsuccessful bid for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives last year following the death of Congresswoman Jackie Walorski, brushing off the groping allegations as “old news.” Republicans in that instance backed now-Congressman Rudy Yakym.
On the Democrat side, former Indiana superintendent of public instruction Jennifer McCormick, once a Republican, is also running for governor, as is Libertarian candidate Donald Rainwater.
Holcomb is term-limited from seeking reelection. He has not yet endorsed a candidate to succeed him.
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