John R. Gregg

John Richard Gregg (born September 6, 1954) is an American politician, businessman, and attorney who served as the 85th and longest-serving Democratic speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives from 1996 to 2003. He served in the Indiana House of Representatives from 1987 to 2003.

Gregg served as majority leader from 1990 to 1994 and minority leader from 1994 to 1996. He was Indiana House speaker from 1996 to 2003. In 2012, Gregg was the Democratic nominee for governor of Indiana. He lost to then-Representative Mike Pence in the closest gubernatorial election in 52 years.

Gregg won the Democratic nomination for governor again in 2016. He was critical of Pence's emphasis on social issues, such as his signing of the controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act, and his policies on public education and Hoosier workers. Pence withdrew from the election after Donald Trump chose him as his running mate in the 2016 presidential election. The state Republican party then nominated Lieutenant Governor Eric Holcomb for governor. Holcomb defeated Gregg, 51.4% to 45.4%.