HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT) -- In Indianapolis on Tuesday night, U.S. Senator Mike Braun, Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch, former Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers and former Indiana Economic Development Corporation President Eric Doden took the debate stage for an upcoming November 2024 election.

Giving a letter grade on Governor Eric Holcomb's administration was among the first questions asked.

Lieutenant Governor Crouch grades Governor Holcomb an "A" on some issues, like the economy, but she says the COVID-19 pandemic could have been handled differently.

"As governor, we will not have lockdowns, masks or mandates when I'm governor because of what it has done to Hoosiers -- with the increase in anxiety and depression, particularly among our young people, and those young Hoosiers are the future of Indiana," Lieutenant Governor Crouch says.

Senator Braun gives a "B-." Chambers gives an "A," and Doden chose not to give a grade to the administration.

"I focus on the future," Doden says. "I don not grade past leaders."

On issues surrounding the border and directing state resources to the border, Doden and Chambers criticize Braun in the Senate.

"It's already costing state's resources right now," Chambers says. "To be clear, on Senator Braun's watch, 7 million people have come over the border illegally. The front door of our country is closed. The back door is slapping wide open, and he has not sponsored one bill or letter on one bill to address this."

"I'll point to Senator Mike Braun, who goes down to the border and cuts a TV commercial -- tells us that he's bringing solutions to the problem," Doden says. "In a few short days later then says, 'well, let's not have solutions because of politics.' And that's just not leadership."

"Unless you do something, it's going to counter a do-nothing policy. And you're promoting open borders like the Biden administration has and the naivety about what Mr. Chambers says is that any bill would have to be put -- brought forward -- by a Schumer Senate," Senator Braun replies. "Unless a guy like Schumer is going to bring it forward, it's not going to work. You need to learn how that works in the U.S. government."

Meanwhile, as Indiana is surrounded by states that have at least legalized marijuana for medicinal use, Lieutenant Governor Crouch is against legalization of medicinal and recreational use.

Doden is against recreational use, but is open to hearing more about medical use.

Senator Braun and Chambers say they need to tread lightly on the issue.

"I am supportive of medicinal marijuana being legalized," Chambers says. "Now, that said, the federal government has screwed this up again. We have conflicts with federal laws and regulations and state laws and regulations that would have to get resolved to be able to evaluate recreational."

"Medical marijuana is where I think the case is best made that maybe something needs to change," Senator Braun says. "But I'll take my cue from law enforcement there a

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