Indiana secretary of state candidates meet in first debate
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The four candidates for secretary of state debated at the Indy Chamber's HobNob event. Photo: Arika Herron/Axios
Building back trust in the office will be the first order of business for Indiana's next secretary of state.
Why it matters: The high-profile race will be top of the ticket in November and the winner will be charged with ensuring the state's elections are fair, open and secure.
The big picture: Democrats are hoping to finally take back a statewide position with Beau Bayh, capitalizing on the controversies that have plagued the office and current Secretary of State Diego Morales for the last four years.
- Yes, but: Republicans turned away from Morales at the nominating convention and chose Max Engling, staffer to U.S. Sen. Jim Banks.
- It's set up a race between two relatively unknown quantities representing the two major parties and two third-party candidates with the potential to have a real impact.
Driving the news: Big differences in how to reinstill that trust were on display during Wednesday night's debate between the four candidates.
- The widest gap in policy and opinion was between Engling and the other three candidates on stage, who largely agreed on issues of voter ID, election security and mail-in voting.
Case in point: Bayh, Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard and Libertarian Lauri Shillings all committed to auditing the office if elected to investigate whether it was misused by Morales.
- Engling did not. He was also the only candidate to unequivocally support the SAVE Act, which would put new restrictions on voter registration.
Inside the room: Though it felt like three versus one at some points, the debate stayed largely amicable and on topic.
- All four candidates agreed that the state's business registration process should be transparent.
- Ballard was dinged by the other candidates for his $2.5 million voter guide proposal.
- Engling was the only candidate who didn't question the decision of the Indiana Recount Commission in rejecting a handful of ballots in a close state Senate race, changing the original outcome.
What they're saying: Beyond the general policy agreement, Bayh said his campaign has a unique message.
- "The common refrain that I hear is that people are fed up with the divisiveness, the fear, the anger in our politics," he told reporters after the debate. "This campaign is about rooting that out."
The other sides: Engling said he's best positioned to get things done because he already has good working relationships with state leaders.
- "We could step into this role immediately and get to work," he said.
- Ballard said his campaign will open the doors for more independents in the state to run for elected office, while Shillings said she's the only alternative to the major parties that many voters are fed up with that has a clear, transparent platform.
Worth noting: All four candidates committed to serving the entirety of the four-year term, saying they had no plans to leave early and seek higher office.
What's next: Another debate is scheduled for Oct. 7.
- Election Day is Nov. 3.