Connie Lawson to Resign as Secretary of State
Connie Lawson is the Indiana Secretary of State.
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowIndiana Secretary of State Connie Lawson has announced she will leave public service after 32 years. Lawson says she has notified Governor Eric Holcomb and that she will submit a formal resignation once he chooses her successor.
“Like many Hoosiers, 2020 took a toll on me. I am resigning so I can focus on my health and my family. I will work with Governor Holcomb to ensure our next Secretary of State is up to the task and has the tools and resources to hit the ground running,” said Lawson.
Lawson was first appointed Secretary of State in March 2012 by then Governor Mitch Daniels. She ran and won re-election in 2014 and 2018, and is the longest serving Secretary of State in Indiana history. She focused on election integrity and security and was able to allow all Indiana counties access to cybersecurity tools to keep elections safe during her tenure. Lawson also advocated for financial literacy to better protect Indiana investors and led the effort to improve how businesses work with government on the state’s business portal, INBiz.
Prior to her terms as Secretary, she served in the Indiana Senate for sixteen years, representing Indiana’s 24th district. She made history in 2006 when she was selected as the first woman to serve as majority floor leader in the Indiana Senate. Lawson also served as clerk of the Hendricks County Circuit Court and was named elections administrator of the year in 1993.
Governor Eric Holcomb issued a statement on Lawson’s announcement:
“Indiana’s own Iron Lady, Secretary of State Connie Lawson, has long defined what true public service and leadership is and ought to be all about. Throughout her time in county, legislative and statewide office, she set the standard for commitment, composure, class and credibility. No matter the year or issues of the day, citizens could bank on Connie Lawson leading the way and inspiring others to follow.
“A trailblazer, holder of state records, even serving alongside three Governors as Secretary of State, through it all, Connie has remained universally respected by veterans and the next generation alike.
“I’ll forever count myself fortunate and proud to say, ‘I served with Connie Lawson.’
“And, while she’ll no longer be just down the hall from my Statehouse office, I know that she will continue to be a trusted advisor and great friend.
“I wish her and her husband Jack and their entire family happy trails upon her retirement and congratulate her on her immediate induction into the Hoosier Pantheon of all-time great public servants.”