Eric Holcomb enjoys his new Hendricks County digs after serving eight years as governor. Photo from Niki Kelly, Indiana Capital Chronicle.

By Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — About a dozen gleaming shovels from various groundbreakings hang on the wall of Eric Holcomb’s dusty barn. The same barn that has a basketball hoop inside so he can shoot every day and is adorned with hats, jerseys and photos from his eight years as governor.

His life looks a bit different these days.

Holcomb and wife, Janet, have settled into a Hendricks County home with land full of birds, bobcats and coyotes. Miniature Schnauzer pup Ollie likes to watch the fish in the pond when they come up for food.

The former governor has been busy writing not one, but two books. He has signed up to be a professional public speaker next year. And he’s been taking lots of meetings in the man cave in the back of his barn.

“Civility is a big part of it. It’s just stressing practices and policies that work and maybe share some lessons of what didn’t work that I thought would’ve,” Holcomb said.

Six months after leaving state government, he has been sticking close to home. After all, he did a lot of international traveling during his tenure. Instead, he is getting used to life after being governor. Sometimes he doesn’t know the latest policy or political news unless friends and former administration folks send it to him.

Holcomb has already finished one book — a photographic review of his time as governor — which should come out later this year. But those pictures and remembrances sparked an idea for a second book on lessons learned. There isn’t an exact timetable on that book.

“It reminds you of big moments where you learned something, hopefully leading through it, but lessons that you learned,” he said.

COVID-19 will be a major subject as well as economic development deals and international partnerships.

Holcomb served as governor from early 2017 to early 2025. Before that he was lieutenant governor for less than a year. He cut his teeth in politics running then-Gov. Mitch Daniels’ campaigns and offices. He’s also a U.S. Navy man and ran the Indiana Republican Party for two years.

What’s Next

Like some predecessors, he has formed a nonprofit 501(c)(4) called “A Better Way Policy Institute.”

“It’s kind of a carry on of my interest in how good policy can better communities, better lives, better economies. Leave it better than you found it,” Holcomb said. “And so, it’ll provide me an opportunity to work with other like-minded folks around the state, around the country, around the world.”

He said many people reach out to him and this provides him a vehicle to stay engaged.

Holcomb has only done a few speaking engagements since leaving office in January, including one recently with Daniels and former Governor and Vice President Mike Pence in Carmel. But he has signed an exclusive speaking deal with a company and written a few speeches. That will likely ramp up early next year.

In terms of policy areas, Holcomb wants to work more in energy, life sciences, defense, economic development and national security.

In the meantime, Holcomb is on the hunt for a tractor and handles mundane tasks like scheduling septic cleaning. Former First Lady Janet Holcomb has been impressed that her husband has been able to fully decompress.

“We rise with the sun daily … and we’re able to enjoy long days together and that’s very different,” he said. “I have a lot of time and duties to make up.”