New AG on the Block: Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita
Todd Rokita will take office as Indiana’s 45th attorney general in January 2021. A Republican, Rokita defeated Democrat and former Mayor of Evansville Jonathan Weinzapfel and will succeed Republican Curtis Hill.
Rokita Campaign Platform
Rokita campaigned on three main issues: law and order, consumer protection initiatives, and defending against federal overreach. In his acceptance statement Rokita highlighted recent years of “commonsense conservative leadership” that propelled Indiana to be “a leader in the nation in every category that matters.” Rokita promised “to continue to provide that same kind of pro-growth, limited government leadership … [i]n all things I will work to protect Indiana and put Hoosiers first.”
- Law and Order: Rokita stated that he intends to use specialized investigators in the attorney general’s office to assist in prosecuting cases, with an emphasis on protecting communities. Stressing the importance of judicial restraint, Rokita will encourage courts to “follow the rule of law.”
- Consumer Protection: Rokita called on his record as former secretary of state, during which he took several actions to prevent financial fraud, as an example of his commitment to enforce consumer laws, particularly in the area of illegal robocalls.
- Defending Against Federal Overreach: Rokita promised to protect Indiana from “Washington bureaucrats seek[ing] to impose their will, outside the law and Constitution, on our job creators and citizens.” Indiana should be free, he said, to make decisions about Indiana “without undue influence from the federal government.”
Rokita Background
Public Service and Professional Career
A lifelong Republican, public servant, and Hoosier, Rokita previously served as Indiana’s twice-elected secretary of state and as a four-term member of the House of Representatives.
As secretary of state from 2002-2010, Rokita focused on safeguarding elections, prosecuting white collar criminals, and improving and modernizing the office. He instituted the nation’s first photo voter identification law and helped successfully defend it as it worked its way to the Supreme Court in Crawford v. Marion County Election Board. Rokita also served as the national president of the Association of Secretaries of State.
As a congressman, Rokita served as vice-chairman of the U.S. House Committee on the Budget, where he focused on decreasing spending and challenging entrenched Washington interests.
After leaving Congress, Rokita became general counsel and vice president of external affairs for Apex Benefits, an Indianapolis-based company that helps employers find ways to lower health care costs.
Education and Personal Life
Rokita was raised in Munster, Indiana and graduated from Munster High School. He earned his undergraduate degree from Wabash College. He then earned his law degree from the Robert H. McKinney School of Law at Indiana University and practiced privately for several years.
Rokita and his wife Kathy have two sons, Ryan and Teddy. Teddy has Angelman Syndrome, a complex and severe genetic disorder. Kathy is also the President of the National Angelman Syndrome Foundation.