The Republican Party's chosen nominee for lieutenant governor of Indiana deleted a years-old tweet that made a crude joke about autism and the Kentucky Downs thoroughbred horseracing track.
The December 2011 tweet by Micah Beckwith, highlighted by Politico national politics correspondent Matt Wren, said, "Driving through Kentucky and passed a sign that said 'Kentucky Downs' and @Joshuabradford asks 'Is that a form of Kentucky autism??'"
Presumably, Beckwith was drawing a connection between the name "Kentucky Downs" and Down Syndrome, a chromosomal disorder that can result in physical abnormalities and mild to moderate learning disabilities. It is a completely separate condition from autism spectrum disorders.
Beckwith, a far-right pastor from Noblesville, was chosen in a surprise upset at the Indiana Republican Party's convention, over the objections of Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Senator Mike Braun, who along with former President Donald Trump had endorsed Indianapolis-area State Rep. Julie McGuire for the role.
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, some Republicans are worried that Beckwith will cause dysfunction and argument in Braun's administration, while others are worried he could even create a risk of blowing the race altogether in what is generally a comfortably red state.
In particular, local right-wing attorney and anti-abortion activist Jim Bopp has circulated a five-page memo warning of this possibility.
“Beckwith’s nomination as Lt. Gov poses a serious threat to the Braun candidacy, election and administration,” wrote Bopp, adding “the Democrats have a real opportunity to launch a serious campaign in the fall because of Beckwith’s nomination, and it has already begun.” Specifically, he fears that if Democrats swapped out their nominee of Jennifer McCormick with former Sen. Joe Donnelly, whom Braun originally defeated in 2018, and moved McCormick to the lieutenant governor spot, they would have a viable path to defeating a GOP ticket that has Beckwith on it.