This piece originally appeared as part of NPR’s live coverage of the 2024 election. For more election coverage from the NPR Network head to our live updates page.

INDIANAPOLIS — Republican U.S. Sen. Mike Braun has won Indiana’s open governor’s race, according to a race call by The Associated Press.

Braun, a Trump ally finishing out his first term in the Senate, beat out Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater.

Earlier in his career, Braun served in the Indiana legislature and as a local school board member. Much of the Republican’s campaign pitch centered on his experience starting and growing a southern Indiana auto parts distribution business into a multi-million-dollar company.

MORE: Indiana election results

Braun’s victory creates a bit of Indiana history: the state has never had governors from one party for more than 20 consecutive years. But Democrats haven’t won the governor’s race since 2000, and with Braun’s win, Republicans will extend their time in the governor’s office beyond the two-decade mark.

Current GOP Gov. Eric Holcomb was term-limited from another run, after eight years in office.

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Republican Senator Mike Braun, Democrat and former state Superintendent of Public Instruction Jennifer McCormick, and Libertarian software engineer Donald Rainwater are facing off for Indiana governor.

Each brings a vastly different plan for education in Indiana ahead of a budget session in the state legislature. Already, lawmakers are expected to debate an expansion of school choice programs, and an increase in minimum teacher salaries.

Braun is a proponent of expanding the state’s voucher program — which already makes nearly all students eligible — to all students, while Rainwater has expressed support for universal Education Savings Accounts, which allow parents to customize their child’s education through classes and programs.

McCormick, meanwhile, has championed public schools throughout her campaign as the education model used by more than 90% of Hoosier students. Her education plan includes creating an accountability platform for all schools.

We’ll update this story with results throughout the night. Polls close at 6 p.m. Eastern Time Nov. 5.

Aleksandra Appleton covers Indiana education policy and writes about K-12 schools across the state. Contact her at aappleton@chalkbeat.org.