The 2026 Indiana Secretary of State election will be held on November 3, 2026, to elect the secretary of state of Indiana. Incumbent Republican secretary of state Diego Morales ran for re-election; however, he was eliminated at the Republican convention by Max Engling.
Republican convention Candidates Nominee Max Engling, political aide and candidate for IN-05 in 2024
Eliminated at convention Diego Morales, incumbent secretary of state (2023–present) Jamie Reitenour, businesswoman and 2024 gubernatorial candidate David Shelton, Knox County clerk (2019–present), Knox County Republican Party chair (2022–present), and 2022 secretary of state candidate
Declined Kyle Conrad, former Newton County clerk Andrew Ireland, state representative from the 90th district (2024–present) (endorsed Engling; running for re-election)
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 15, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handDiego Morales (R)$1,294,160$95,042$1,199,118Jamie Reitenour(R)$2,980$79$2,900David Shelton (R)$28,366$24,682$3,684Source: Indiana Secretary of State
Results Republican convention results Candidate Round 1 Round 2 Votes % Votes % Max Engling 715 42.7 867 53.3 David Shelton 543 32.4 627 38.5 Diego Morales 283 16.9 134 8.2 Jamie Reitenour 135 8.1 Eliminated Total ballots 1,676 100.00 1,628 100.00
Democratic convention Candidates Nominee Beau Bayh, attorney and son of former Senator Evan Bayh
Eliminated at convention Blythe Potter, business owner
Endorsements
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of April 15, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handBeau Bayh (D)$2,181,754$207,655$1,974,099Blythe Potter (D)$136,198$69,594$66,604Source: Indiana Secretary of State
Results Democratic convention results Candidate Round 1 Votes % Beau Bayh 1,385 61.00 Blythe Potter 883 39.00 Total ballots 2,269 100.00
Third parties and independents Libertarian Party Nominee Lauri Shillings, business owner and nominee for in 2024
Lincoln Party Declared Greg Ballard, former Republican mayor of Indianapolis (2008–2016)
Socialist Party Nominee Harrison Jacobo, activist
Write-in candidates
Andrew Delano, former Republican nominee for mayor of Gary, Indiana in 2023 (National Socialist American Workers Party)
General election Former Republican mayor of Indianapolis Greg Ballard is running on a ballot line for a new party called the "Lincoln Party," seeking to gain ballot access for future elections. Earning 2% of the vote would make the party an official state party, and earning 10% would enable them to hold primary elections. Despite Indiana's status as a solidly Republican state, most observers consider the race to be highly competitive due to Ballard's presence, both due to his possibility to act as a spoiler in favor of Democratic candidate Beau Bayh, or even his ability to win the race outright. Ballard is attracting support from across the political spectrum, including from Republicans disaffected by the MAGA movement and from Democrats frustrated by the party establishment. Ballard's presence on the ballot has also raised the political stakes for Libertarian candidate Lauri Shillings, who will also need 2% of the vote to maintain her party's ballot line but can no longer rely on being the primary recipient of protest votes.
Predictions SourceRankingAs of Sabato's Crystal Ball September 9, 2026
Post-convention endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Max Beau Greg Lauri UndecidedThe Tarrance Group (R)September 27–30, 2026600 (LV)± 4.1%38%37%5%6%14%Schoen Cooperman Research (D)>September 1–3, 2026605 (LV)± 4%36%42%5%5%12%
Diego Morales vs. Beau Bayh vs. Greg Ballard Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror Diego Beau Greg UndecidedInAct LLCOctober 24 – November 1, 2025400 (LV)± 4.9%29%32%24%16%
Generic Republican vs. generic Democrat vs. generic Independent Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error GenericRepublican GenericDemocrat GenericIndependent UndecidedInAct LLCOctober 24 – November 1, 2025400 (LV)± 4.9%44%34%10%12%
Fundraising Campaign finance reports as of June 30, 2026CandidateRaisedSpentCash on handMax Engling (R)$201,626$52,493$150,121Beau Bayh (D)$2,695,117$428,165$2,311,139Greg Ballard (I)$876,267$849,789$26,477Lauri Shillings (L)$28,678$20,889$7,791Harrison Jacobo (S)$0$0$0Andrew Delano (NS)$0$0$0Source: Indiana Secretary of State
Debates + 2026 Indiana Secretary of State debate Date Host Moderator Link Republican Democratic Lincoln Party LibertarianKey: Participant Absent Not invited Invited Withdrawn Max Engling Beau Bayh Greg Ballard Lauri Shillings1 Aug. 26, 2026 Indy ChamberFOX 59CBS 4IBJ Media Dan Spehler & Leslie Weidenbener Video 2 Oct. 7, 2026 Indiana Debate Commission Laura Merrifield Wilson Video
Notes Partisan clients
References
External links Official campaign websites: Greg Ballard (I) Beau Bayh (D) Max Engling (R) Lauri Shillings (L) Harrison Jacobo (Socialist)