By Tom Davies
Indiana Capital Chronicle

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WINONA LAKE — Democrats had a big turnout at Noah Noah Wood Grill in Winona Lake Saturday night, with speeches from four candidates.

Among those were Beau Bayh, who's running for Secretary of State, and Kelly Thompson, who will likely face Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman in the general election for the 3rd District seat.

Beau Bayh is the son of former Indiana Gov. Evan Bayh and the grandson of former U.S. Senator Birch Bayh.

Bayh talked with News Now Warsaw before the dinner and was highly critical of Indiana's Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales.

"We have someone who's currently filling that role who has bought luxury vehicles, $92,000 of the taxpayer money; when he's hired his family members and pays them six-figure salaries; when he's taking trips all over the world and he's given out millions of dollars in no-bid contracts to his largest campaign donors," Bayh said.

"That's breaking down the trust in that office, and we've got to rebuild that trust, so my first priority is going to be to clean up the corruption by opening an independent audit," he said.

He also spoke about improving voter turnout in Indiana, which remains low compared to many other states.

He's calling for expanded voting hours and the elimination of straight-ticket voting.

Indiana is only one of six states that allow straight-ticket voting.

He also supports a change to the state constitution to allow for what he calls "citizen-led statewide ballot referendums."

Morales is expected to face challenges from Libertarian candidate Lauri Shillings and independent candidate Greg Ballard.

In the Democratic Party, Bayh will face Blythe Potter, who also spoke at the Winona Lake dinner.

Potter, a veteran and small business owner in Bargersville, said she wants to see the secretary of state's office return to traditional roles with fewer headlines.

“My first work is going to be sure that we are empowering Hoosier voters. Many state already have a statewide ballot book, and Indiana has next to nothing,” Potter said.

She said she envisions it as becoming the most comprehensive ballot guide compared to other states.

Potter also pointed out that she's running to be Indiana's first female Democrat to serve as secretary of state.

Bayh is heavily outraising Potter in campaign fundraising.

Thompson, of North Webster, gave an energized speech on a wide variety of topics that repeatedly focused on affordability issues, including the right to health care.

She talked about conversations she's had with pharmacists who are sometimes unable to provide prescriptions because of the price.

“They tell me that they watch people put medications back because we, in the richest country in the history of the world, can’t provide … what we deserve, which is access to affordable health care."

Thompson, on the subject of abortion, said she'd like to see the number of abortions decline as low as possible, but said a new approach is needed

"Maybe the men in power think that the only way to fix this is to outlaw it, but I have news for you," Thompson said. 

"Let's help women who don't want to get pregnant, not get pregnant. We need to have access to birth control like so many other states in this country already do. You want to know what else we could do? We could make sure that there is OBGYN care for women who might get pregnant in these states — We could make sure that women who get pregnant know that they're going to be able to afford diapers and formula and a roof over their head."

"Give them some child care!" she added.

Jamee Decio, a congressional candidate for the 2nd District Congressional seat, also spoke.

She's an Elkhart native and a lawyer who has worked to provide legal aid.

Decio called on Congress to develop a policy that can provide a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants who have a clean record.

"Together we can make America great for the next generation," Decio said.

Several awards were presented by party leadership, including the Salute to Service Award, which was given to Paul and Kay Croyle, who have been the leading supporters of the annual event in recent years. 

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Former Republican Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is shaking up Indiana’s race for secretary of state by announcing a run as an independent Wednesday.

He will have to gather nearly 37,000 petition signatures to get on the ballot, and raise millions to be competitive in just a few months.

“I’m doing this for the people, and I think they deserve a really nonpartisan, low-key professional in that office, and that’s what I intend to do,” Ballard told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

The retired, two-term mayor has kept busy writing a book — Urban Republican Mayor: My Story — and has been weighing in on various topics in recent months. He came out against early redistricting and has talked about data centers, food assistance and the filibuster. He now lives in Boone County.

There are multiple candidate choices on both the Republican and Democrat side, but Ballard said 41% of voters consider themselves to be independent and are looking for something different.

“That’s a pretty wide swatch to walk down,” he said. “I’m kind of disaffected by the path that both parties are taking and … I think there are people in the Democratic and Republican party who are kind of looking for something different, too. And so, this makes sense to me.”

The secretary of state’s race will be the top statewide race on the Indiana ballot this year. Republican and Democratic nominees will be decided at the party conventions in June.

Current GOP Secretary of State Diego Morales’s renomination bid is being opposed by Knox County Clerk David Shelton and Jamie Reitenour, who unsuccessfully sought the 2024 Republican bid for governor.

Political legacy and Marine veteran Beau Bayh faces a Democratic challenge from Blythe Potter, a small business owner and Army veteran from Bargersville.

But Ballard — a retired lieutenant colonel from the United States Marine Corps — said he’s not in this as a spoiler.

“I’m in this to win it,” he said.

Ballard was elected mayor of Indianapolis in 2007 with his upset of incumbent Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson. He was re-elected in 2011 but decided not to seek a third term.

He said people have approached him about running for various offices since then, but his heart wasn’t in those.

Ballard chose not to characterize Morales’ first term in office — instead focusing on a few changes he would make immediately.

The former mayor said the state’s top election officer shouldn’t be involved in political races. He promised not to endorse, campaign for or donate to a candidate running for office.

Ballard also said Indiana should join a growing list of states providing a nonpartisan voter’s guide introducing the candidates, explaining voting mechanics, providing information on ballot measures and more.

“Hopefully that would increase people going to the polls. They won’t be so disengaged, and would have knowledge going into the polls,” he said.

Ballard will hire a national firm to help gather signatures. He plans to submit 50,000 to ensure he meets the 36,943 number for an independent to make the ballot.

Ballard said he thinks he will have to raise about $2 million to be competitive. He will open an exploratory campaign finance committee today but can’t technically file to run until he gathers the signatures.

Bayh raised $1.8 million last year and ended 2025 with nearly $1.6 million available.

That compares to the $500,000 raised by Morales for the year and his campaign’s $1.2 million available.

Those figures already put the secretary of state campaigns well ahead of spending for the entire 2022 cycle, when Morales raised $1.3 million and Democratic challenger Destiny Wells raised $860,000.

State of the secretary’s race

A recent poll shows Ballard might have a shot.

Independent Indiana — a group aimed at supporting independent political candidates in Indiana — on Monday released the results of a poll conducted last fall showing Ballard with support from nearly one-quarter of voters in a hypothetical matchup against Morales and Bayh.

“We think it’s important for people to know that if he were to decide to run, that he would be a viable candidate,” said Nathan Gotsch, executive director of the group. “Historically, independent candidates have not met that threshold, but I think that he is very unique in that respect.”

Results from the poll found Bayh with 31.5% support, followed by Morales at 28.5% and Ballard at 23.8%, with 16.3% undecided.

The poll was conducted Oct. 24-Nov. 1 by InAct, an Indianapolis-based market research firm, through an online survey of 400 likely general election voters with a margin of error of 4.9%, according to Independent Indiana.

Gotsch declined to say which other potential independents were included in the poll or identify the group’s funding sources. He said Ballard has not been involved with Independent Indiana but that he has talked with the former mayor about a possible campaign.

“You couldn’t get numbers back like this and not at least reach out to people close to him and see if this is something that he might consider,” Gotsch said. “So, we have had some of those conversations.”

The Morales campaign dismissed the Independent Indiana results, saying it “will not be misled by ‘polling’ data suggesting a tight race.”

“Secretary Morales welcomes all challengers,” the campaign said in a statement. “With the resources and a proven track record, he is ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone.”

Bayh’s campaign expressed confidence in the poll results.

“This race is a referendum on Diego Morales’s tenure as secretary of state and this poll reiterates that Beau Bayh is the only candidate in the race that can defeat him and put an end to his blatant corruption,” Bayh campaign manager Jack Tormoehlen said.

Ballard acknowledged he will have to overcome straight-ticket voting to win.

“I already know people are excited … and we’re going to have to tell them the mechanics of making sure ‘don’t push that button. Push this button instead.”

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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

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