By Marilyn Odendahl
The Indiana Citizen
June 9, 2026
During a break in the action at the Indiana Democratic State Convention on Saturday, first-time delegates Tyler Pierce, 20, and Zainab Fyed, 21, grew excited when talking about New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.
The pair had decided to get involved in politics and attend the convention because they see too many “very, very old men” in elected office and believe the only way to bring the change they want is to do the work themselves. Environmental justice and putting a moratorium on data centers topped their list of concerns.
And Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist who ran for mayor on a progressive platform focused on affordability, appeared to top their list of inspiring leaders. Pierce and Fyed said they “loved Mamdani” and described the mayor as overhauling the status quo by bringing in new leaders and advocating for bold policies.
That is the kind of change Pierce and Fyed crave for Indiana. However, they said, the Hoosier State still has to take “10 million baby steps,” before the electorate is ready to upend the system.
So, among the party faithful gathered at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis, Pierce and Fyed sat with Beau Bayh signs in their laps as they waited to cast their ballots to make him the Democratic nominee for Indiana secretary of state. The young delegates believe Bayh is the first step to breaking the Republicans’ grip on the Statehouse and opening the path to change. In particular, they would like to see at some point in the future a woman from the Democratic Party elected as secretary of state.
Pierce and Fyed said getting Bayh elected to office and setting a course for a new direction will take more time and more work than waving a sign with the candidate’s name printed on it at a convention.
“If it weren’t worthwhile, it would be easy,” Fyed said.
The other delegates shared that confidence in Bayh’s electability. Of the 2,269 votes cast, 61%, or 1,385, were for Bayh. Blythe Potter, the other candidate vying for the party’s nomination for secretary of state, garnered 39%, or 883, of the votes.
As the grandson of the late U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh and the son of former Indiana Gov. and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, Beau Bayh is the third generation of his family to seek elected office in the Hoosier State and, some delegates said, the current face of the Indiana Democratic Party. He will be leading the Democratic ticket in the November general election, which also includes Jessica Bailey and Coumba Kebe, the nominees for state comptroller and state treasurer, respectively, followed by a full slate of candidates trying to turn the General Assembly from ruby red to purple.
To accomplish that, Democrats will have to unite behind their office hopefuls and have a clear message for all Hoosier voters. Delegates at the convention said with the campaign for the nomination decided, they could rally behind and support Bayh. Also, many delegates contended Democrats can get into the Statehouse by continually talking about Hoosiers’ ongoing struggle stretching their paychecks to cover groceries, gas and shelter.
Phil Gift, a delegate from Gaston and Democratic candidate for Indiana House District 35, was blunt. He said the Democratic Party needs to stop worrying about people’s pronouns and focus on kitchen-table issues.
To connect with voters, Gift suggested Democrats dust off the message that swept Democrat Bill Clinton into the White House in 1992: “It’s the economy, stupid.”
Although Bayh and Potter offered different messages in their nomination speeches, they both said they would bring needed change to the secretary of state’s office.
Bayh focused on the reports of corruption and scandal in the secretary of state office under the leadership of Republican Diego Morales.
He told the delegates the office is “infested with corruption” and pointed to purchases of luxury cars with taxpayer money, the hiring of Morales’ relatives and his awarding of no bid contracts to campaign donors. Nodding to the contentious fight brewing in the race to win the Republican nomination for secretary of state, Bayh asserted so long as the office remains under GOP control, the problems of corruption, waste, higher taxes and fewer services will continue.
“We deserve better than that,” Bayh said. “The time has come to clean house. The time has come to restore integrity to our state government. The time has come for fundamental change in Indianapolis.”
Potter kept her attention on elections, saying she will “do everything in my power” to stop Republicans from limiting access to the ballot box. She pledged to “dramatically expand” voter education programs, create nonpartisan voter guides, support a citizen initiative ballot process and make sure local county officials have the resources and training they need to serve voters.
“Indiana Republicans aren’t just ignoring the needs of voters, they’re working to make it harder to vote,” Potter told the delegates. “As your secretary of state, my number one priority will be protecting Hoosier voters, challenging (the barriers) that Republicans have put in their way.”
Potter generated a lot of enthusiasm and energy at the convention. Her grassroots campaign, her experience as a mother and small-business owner, and her message brought many of the delegates to their feet, cheering and waving signs, when she was nominated.
Evelyn Davis of Hamilton County was among the strong supporters. She pointed to Potter’s focus on protecting elections, so they remain free and fair, and to the candidate’s effort to connect with Hoosiers by visiting all 92 counties and talking to local residents.
“She speaks to me,” Davis said of Potter. “She wants to change the system, not be the system.”
La’Kendra Deitche, a delegate from Fort Wayne, was supporting Bayh because of a long reliable method of campaigning – he had reached out and personally asked for her vote.
In a phone conversation prior to the convention, Deitche said Bayh explained why he was running for secretary of state and his plans for the office if he is elected. Conversely, she said she was unable to connect with Potter, despite attempting to reach the candidate to ask her a few questions.
Deitche brushed aside the attacks on Bayh. She said the criticism that Bayh could not understand ordinary Hoosiers because he is from a political dynasty and has a trust fund are unfair.
Bayh had no control over the family and legacy he was born into, Deitche said. Moreover, his privileged background “doesn’t mean his intent is less pure, doesn’t mean he doesn’t want to help people and he won’t do a good job as secretary of state.”
Throughout the general session of the Democratic convention, party leaders emphasized unity and working together to help elect the nominees for secretary of state, comptroller and treasurer, as well as the other Democratic candidates, to office.
Indiana Democratic Party Chairperson Karen Tallian stepped to the podium after the votes in the Bayh-Potter race had been tallied but before the winner was announced. She dispensed with her prepared remarks and, again, stressed solidarity.
“We have had a successful convention,” Tallian told the delegates. “We have convened in harmony. We are leaving in unity.”
During the general session of the convention, Democratic activist and political strategist Dana Black ignited the delegates as she presented the party’s 2026 platform. The crowd applauded and cheered as Black highlighted the Democrats’ agenda, which includes additional funding for child care, affordable housing for families of all economic levels, reducing health-care costs, fully funding public education and revitalizing rural communities.
Black also took swipes at Republican Gov. Mike Braun for signing his Nuclear Family proclamation on June 1, the first day of Pride month, that celebrated only heterosexual married couples and at Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who is a Republican and awowed Christian nationalist, for his recent comments denigrating Islam and Muslims.
Then Black called for party unity, reminding the delegates that only one of the two candidates would win the party’s nomination for secretary of state.
“Once we announce the winner,” Black said, “we need to come together because white Christian nationalism is running amuck in the Statehouse.”
Potter stayed and talked to a few delegates who lingered after the convention had adjourned.
She said in her conversations with delegates before the convention, many asked whether she would be able to raise enough money as the Democratic nominee and were skeptical that a woman could win against a Republican in the race for secretary of state. Potter reminded them the GOP had already elected several women as secretary of state.
Going forward, Potter said she would support all Democrats on the November ballot, including Bayh. She said to be successful in the general election, the party and the candidates need to look beyond the Hoosiers who show up at the ballot box.
“They need to connect with voters, but they need to connect with non-voters,” Potter said. “That’s our largest voting base.”
At a news conference following his nomination, Bayh reached out to Potter’s supporters. He said his campaign has room for them, too, and welcomes their involvement especially since they share the belief that “we need something better in here in the Statehouse.”
To connect with voters, Bayh said Democrats must be everywhere and talk to everyone. Party members have to sit down with people who may hold different political views and find common ground.
Bayh believes his message will resonate with a majority of Hoosiers.
“Regardless of the political party that you come from – Republican, Democratic, Independent, Libertarian – doesn’t matter. We can’t tolerate insider dealing and corruption in our state government,” Bayh said. “That message of cleaning up this office appeals broadly, because it’s unacceptable what’s going on.”
Dwight Adams, an editor and writer based in Indianapolis, edited this article. He is a former content editor, copy editor and digital producer at The Indianapolis Star and IndyStar.com, and worked as a planner for other newspapers, including the Louisville Courier Journal.
The Indiana Citizen is a nonpartisan, nonprofit platform dedicated to increasing the number of informed and engaged Hoosier citizens. We are operated by the Indiana Citizen Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c)(3) public charity. For questions about the story, contact Marilyn Odendahl at marilyn.odendahl@indianacitizen.org
