Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said Wednesday his administration has eliminated what he described as the final remaining race- and sex-based preferences in the state's contracting process, arguing that government contracts should be awarded solely on merit following a legal opinion from Attorney General Todd Rokita.

Braun made the remarks during an interview with Newsmax's "National Report" after Rokita issued a legal opinion concluding that Indiana's Diversity Business Enterprises program violates constitutional principles by using race and sex as factors in awarding state contracts.

The move builds on Braun's broader effort to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across Indiana after taking office in January 2025. On his first full day as governor, Braun signed an executive order directing executive branch agencies not to use state funds or resources to support DEI positions, departments or programs that grant preferential treatment based on race, color, ethnicity or national origin.

Asked whether Rokita's opinion helped push the contracting changes "past the finish line," Braun pointed to the U.S. Supreme Court's 2023 decision ending race-conscious admissions policies in higher education.

"Well, thank goodness the Supreme Court weighed in on this in general back in June of '23," Braun said. "Many blue states have done everything they can to kind of not get where the Supreme Court said you needed to be."

Braun said Indiana had already acted to eliminate most DEI-related policies after he took office but identified one remaining area involving state contracts.

"You saw what I did in early '25 after getting sworn in," Braun said. "There was one component in terms of state contracts where it was still related to race, sex, and it was kind of a place where it wasn't clear."

He said Rokita's opinion clarified that the remaining preferences also should be eliminated.

"We, with the attorney general being clear that even there, we got to get rid of anything where you're picking winners and losers," Braun said.

Braun said his administration has replaced DEI with what it calls MEI, standing for merit, excellence, and innovation.

"So this is kind of a merit, excellence, innovation. That's the new theme," he said. "We do not tolerate any discrimination or bigotry. But this is the last kind of element of where bureaucrats, politicians were picking winners and losers on contracts where now it's going to be on your merit, not your sex, not your race."

The governor said the contracting changes make Indiana one of the nation's leaders in removing race- and sex-based preferences from state procurement.

"I'm glad the attorney general weighed in, and now we're clear on it," Braun said. "So we'd be probably a state that would be at the leading edge of where it needs to be. You should be awarded any contract based upon merit only, not a lot of the other things that the other side of the aisle has been for, for decades."

When asked about the practical effect of the changes, Braun said the remaining preferences affected a relatively narrow category.

"It was on small business only. And women still having preference and then race," he said.

Braun said earlier changes addressed broader concerns, but the latest action removes the final remnants of the previous system.

"And there were other broader kind of concerns. Those were easier to remove immediately," Braun said. "There was the opinion that here those two categories would basically stay put."

He added that Indiana has now reached a point where "no vestiges are left."

"Make sure there's no discrimination, no bigotry, even playing field, everyone comes with an equal opportunity, and then the contracts are going to be awarded on merit," Braun said. "Who has the best value? Who will do the best job as it relates to state contracts?"

Responding to criticism from DEI advocates, Braun said he understands the historical reasons such programs were created but believes they are no longer appropriate.

"I do it respectfully because so much of that came into place because you did not have an even playing field," Braun said.

"I think the Supreme Court said clearly, we're beyond that. Any vestiges of it. You need to make sure that you get rid of it," he continued. "But at some point in time, you got to turn the page and make sure that you're not in a system still that's keeping components [or] vestiges of it, because I think Indiana can be a state proudly that says equal opportunity for all. No picking winners and losers. And we've come to that point in time where even though I respect where he's coming from, I don't think it's relevant currently."

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