Indiana Republican Party chair Lana Keesling resigned from the position on Thursday, November 12, a week after Democrats recorded sweeping election wins across Indiana, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported. The state party office announced her decision the same day.

Source: Indiana Capital Chronicle

Keesling will be replaced temporarily by party Vice Chair Jim Johnson until a permanent chair is selected, the state party office said in announcing her decision. Johnson will lead the party on an interim basis while the search for a permanent chair runs.

What Keesling and Governor Braun said

In the party's statement, Keesling said serving as state chair has been an “incredible honor” and thanked Governor Mike Braun and other party leaders for their support. “It has been a privilege to stand alongside them and witness firsthand the dedication that drives our organization,” she said. “As I step away from this role, I do so with gratitude for the relationships built and experiences gained. I wish the next chair and the entire Indiana Republican Party continued success as they move forward.”

Braun did not mention the election results in the remarks issued by the party about Keesling's resignation. He thanked her for her service and said he would work with the Republican state committee on the search for a new party chair. “We have a golden opportunity to strengthen our party and address the kitchen-table issues facing families across Indiana,” Braun said in the statement.

A week after Democrats' first statewide wins since 2012

Her resignation comes as Indiana Republicans are recalibrating after last week's elections, in which Democrats gained their first statewide victories since 2012. Beau Bayh captured the secretary of state's office and Jessica Bailey prevailed in the race for comptroller, the Chronicle reported.

Democrats also flipped a congressional seat, with J.D. Ford's victory over Republican Representative Victoria Spartz, and flipped at least 21 state legislative seats previously held by the GOP. Braun last week called the sweeping Democratic gains a “wake-up call” and an “opportunity” for Republicans to refocus their agenda on issues of affordability.

A chairmanship marked by turnover at the top

Braun tapped Keesling in February 2025 to become the fourth state Republican chair in less than 18 months, calling her an experienced party leader who would be “a strong partner for grassroots leaders and elected Republicans in Indianapolis and Washington.” The state GOP central committee ratified her selection. Keesling was then the elected Fort Wayne city clerk, a post she stepped down from this past January to concentrate on the party job.

The frequent turnover predates her. Kyle Hupfer, a confidant of then-Governor Eric Holcomb, stepped down in August 2023 after six years as state party chair. Anne Hathaway then led the party for 10 months, before Randy Head held the position for five months through the 2024 election, setting up Keesling's tenure. Keesling maintained a fairly low public profile as state leader, keeping her public appearances principally to local party events, the Chronicle reported.

What happens next

Johnson, the interim leader, became the state Republican vice chair when Keesling was elected, while also serving as the Montgomery County GOP chair. He has been deputy chief of staff at the Indiana Department of Transportation since August 2025, after previously working as the agency's intergovernmental affairs director and as a state Senate staffer.

The leadership change also comes as Braun is expected to announce his 2028 re-election bid during a November 16 campaign event. No date for selecting a permanent chair was announced in the party's statement; Braun said he would work with the Republican state committee on the search.