Republicans line up against Secretary of State Diego Morales
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Misconduct allegations. In-party fighting. Calls for resignation. Indiana's secretary of state race is becoming one of the state GOP's messiest battles in years.
Why it matters: The growing Republican backlash against Secretary of State Diego Morales could create an opening for Democrats to win a statewide race — something they haven't done in more than a decade.
Driving the news: The tide is turning against Morales with less than a month until the nominating convention.
- Treasurer Daniel Elliott called for Morales' resignation over what Elliott called "a constant stream of controversy that has shattered confidence in the office."
- Attorney General Todd Rokita and Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) had already withdrawn their support in favor of Banks' staffer Max Engling and called for Morales to withdraw from the race for reelection.
What they're saying: "The Secretary of State's office is too important to be lost to out-of-touch, left-wing Democrats who put Hoosiers last," Rokita said in a statement.
- "To that end, I have asked Diego to suspend his campaign. With so many self-inflicted wounds and issues, I now do not believe he can win in November."
- Morales had faced scrutiny for spending while in office and hiring family members before the latest controversy around a former staffer who allegedly registered to vote illegally.
The other side: Morales' office did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment but he said last week that he'd let delegates decide and sent a text to delegates this week defending his hiring practices.
Between the lines: Gov. Mike Braun is staying out of it.
- He told reporters Wednesday that he'd let the process play out but added he'd told Morales not to "make headlines for the wrong way."
- "You will be taken to task when you want to get your job renewed," he said.
State of play: Democrats are also poised to choose their secretary of state candidate next month.
- Beau Bayh and Blythe Potter are both vying for the position.
- Greg Ballard, a former Republican mayor of Indianapolis, is running as an independent candidate under the "Lincoln Party" title.
What's next: The Democratic convention on June 6. The GOP convention follows on June 20.