Indiana GOP insiders elect Cyndi Carrasco to fill late state Sen. Jack Sandlin's term
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Cyndi Carrasco, a 2022 candidate for Marion County prosecutor, was selected by Republican party insiders Wednesday to fill the state Senate seat left empty by the passing of Jack Sandlin.
Carrasco was elected by precinct committee people to the Senate District 36 seat during a Republican Party caucus Wednesday night, winning 53 out of 58 votes.
She defeated former State Rep. John Jacob in the first and only round of voting. Jacob lost his reelection bid in the Republican primary in 2022. He has previously drawn headlines while in office for controversial social media posts and supporting a total abortion ban with no exceptions.
Carrasco thanked the precinct committee people for their votes in her acceptance speech Wednesday night at the Atrium Banquet and Conference Center on the Indianapolis south side.
"I promise you, I will not let you down," Carrasco said.
She also thanked Sandlin's wife, Lydia, for her support.
"I know that Jack would be looking down and smiling," Carrasco said.
Sandlin's passing: State Sen. Jack Sandlin remembered as law enforcement and social conservative champion
Carrasco concedes in 2022: Ryan Mears overcomes police union opposition to win Marion County prosecutor race
Carrasco, who was named vice president and general counsel at the University of Indianapolis earlier this year, will take on the remainder of Sandlin’s Senate District 36 term that runs through the end of 2024. Senate District 36 covers portions of Marion and Johnson counties.
Sandlin, who died in September, was first elected to Senate District 36 in 2016 following a career in public service on the Indianapolis City-County Council and Perry Township Trustee. He also served in the U.S. Army and the Indianapolis and Southport police departments.
Carrasco brings previous legal experience to her new role in the state Senate. She was the first woman to become state inspector general in Indiana and previously headed up the State Ethics Commission.
Democrat Ryan Mears defeated Carrasco by 18 percentage points in the race for Marion County prosecutor last year, despite Carrasco outraising Mears in donations ahead of Election Day.
Indiana Senate Republican staff are looking at swearing in Carrasco around Nov. 1.
Contact IndyStar's state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com or 317-779-4468. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Cyndi Carrasco selected by GOP insiders to replace late Jack Sandlin
