Rokita finishes 2023 with $1.1M in campaign dollars, compared to Wells’ $55K

Republican Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita finished 2023 with nearly $1.1 million in his campaign coffers as he mounts his reelection bid this year.

According to his campaign finance report filed this week, Rokita raised $349,839.43 in the second half of 2023, on top of the $892,518.01 cash on hand he had as of July 1.

With $160,486.23 in expenses, Rokita’s net total at the end of the year was $1,081,478.38.

Year to date, Rokita has raised $727,199.93.

Comparatively, Democrat Destiny Wells finished 2023 with $55,295.22.

Wells launched her campaign in November 2023 and raised $68,984.50, according to her campaign finance report. Her expenses totaled $13,689.28.

A third candidate entered the race for attorney general on Thursday, after campaign finance reports were filed: Beth White, the current president and CEO of the Indiana Coalition to End Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking, who will challenge Wells for the Democratic nomination at the party’s convention this summer.

Each party’s nominee for attorney general is selected at a party convention, rather than on the primary ballot.

Parts of this year’s race for Indiana attorney general are reminiscent of 2020: a Republican incumbent who has been disciplined by the Indiana Supreme Court vying for reelection while Democrats look to the AG’s office as a possible avenue to break the Republican stronghold on statewide elected positions.

But 2020 and 2024 aren’t exactly the same.

In 2020, the incumbent — Curtis Hill — had proceeded to a disciplinary hearing that resulted in a 30-day suspension with automatic reinstatement. But Rokita entered into a conditional agreement with the Indiana Supreme Court Disciplinary Commission, resulting in a public reprimand.

Also, Hill was up against several GOP challengers. That included John Westercamp, now corporate counsel at P1 Dental Partners, Decatur County Prosecutor Nate Harter and Rokita.

Rokita was the last candidate to announce his bid for the Republican nomination in 2020, and he waited to declare his candidacy until Hill’s discipline was handed down.

The Indiana GOP ultimately ousted Hill from office by giving the nomination to Rokita.

Hill is now part of a crowded Republican primary for Indiana governor.

In this year’s race, Rokita is currently not facing a Republican challenger.

As for Democrats, 2020 also featured multiple candidates: former Evansville Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel and former State Sen. Karen Tallian.

The party selected Weinzapfel to run in 2020, but he was ultimately defeated by Rokita.

The 2024 Republican state convention is scheduled for June 15 and the Democratic state convention is scheduled for July 13.

Editor’s note: This article has been corrected to show that the Indiana Democrats’ state convention is scheduled for July 13.