INDIANAPOLIS (AP) – Mike Pence has become Indiana’s 50th governor after taking the oath of office on a Statehouse balcony before a crowd of supporters.
The former six-term Republican congressman from Columbus took the oath Monday morning from the state’s chief justice during an outdoor ceremony with temperatures around 20 degrees.
Pence succeeds fellow Republican Mitch Daniels, who is leaving the state’s top office after eight years. Daniels takes over as president of Purdue University.
Pence defeated Democrat John Gregg in November with a campaign that focused largely on jobs and education. He says his top priorities are improving the economy and bringing more jobs to the state.
Pence and wife Karen plan to live in the governor’s residence on the north side of Indianapolis. Daniels and his wife, Cheri, never occupied the residence.
