INDIANAPOLIS (AP): Donald Trump’s new running mate Mike Pence says Indiana’s lieutenant governor should take his place on the November ballot as the GOP nominee for governor.

Pence said in a statement Friday that he believes Lt. Gov. Eric Holcomb is “one of the best prepared individuals in recent memory” to be governor.

Pence withdrew from the race last week after the billionaire businessman and Republican presidential nominee plucked him to be his vice president.

That set off a flurry of behind-the -scenes lobbying by some of the state’s top elected officials. U.S. Reps. Todd Rokita and Susan Brooks are also considered to be top contenders for the job.

Indiana’s 22-member Republican Party committee is set to pick a replacement for Pence during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.