Staff Report
The Indiana Citizen
August 16, 2026
All four candidates in the heated race for Indiana secretary of state will be discussing their priorities and answering voters’ questions at two events leading to the Nov. 3 general election.
On Aug. 26, the Indy Chamber is hosting a moderated discussion in Indianapolis, and on Oct. 7, the Indiana Debate Commission will be holding a live televised debate broadcast and streamed across the state from the WFYI studios in Indianapolis. The four candidates – Democrat Beau Bayh, Republican Max Engling, Libertarian Lauri Shillings and Independent running under the Lincoln Party label Greg Ballard – are scheduled to participate in both events.
The secretary of state’s office has been in Republican hands since 1994, with Joe Hogsett, the current mayor of Indianapolis, being the last Democrat to hold that position.
However, this year, the Indiana GOP was divided when selecting its candidate. Delegates at the Republican state convention snubbed incumbent Secretary of State Diego Morales, but needed two rounds of voting before choosing Engling, a last-minute entrant into the race for the nomination, over Knox County Circuit Court Clerk David Shelton.
Bayh brings a strong political pedigree to the race as the son of Evan Bayh, who served as secretary of state, governor and U.S. senator, and the grandson of Birch Bayh, who served as speaker of the Indiana House and U.S. senator. Still, he had to fight off populist challenger, Blythe Potter, at the Democratic state convention.
Shillings secured the Libertarian Party’s nomination in March.
Ballard, a surprise entrant into the secretary of state race, was able to collect the 36,943 signatures required for an independent candidate to appear on the November ballot. The former mayor of Indianapolis is forming the Lincoln Party, which he hopes will become a viable alternative for voters who do not agree with the agendas and policies of either the Republican or Democratic parties.
When: Aug. 26 with a networking reception starting at 5 p.m., followed by the program from 6:30 to 8 p.m. A VIP ticket gives access to a special reception from 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Where: The Crane Bay Event Center, 551 W. Merrill St., Indianapolis
Tickets: Visit the Indy Chamber Eventbrite.
Hosts: Indy Chamber in collaboration with media partners Fox59, CBS4 and IBJ Media.
Reason for event: “Bringing candidates together in one forum gives our business community and voters the opportunity to hear directly from those seeking office and better understand the issues that will shape Indiana’s future,” Taylor Hughes, Indy Chamber chief strategy officer and chief of staff, said in a press release.
When: 7 to 8 p.m. on Oct. 7
Where: Live from WFYI Public Television studios in Indianapolis
How to Watch: Live on WFYI Public Television and streamed on WFYI’s YouTube channel and at www.indianadebatecommission.com. Also, the debate feed will be made available to other media organizations.
Moderator: Laura Merrifield Wilson, professor of political science at University of Indianapolis, host of Positively Politics on WICR and member of the Indiana Debate Commission.
Ask a Question: Hoosiers are invited to submit their questions for the candidates via the Debate Commission’s homepage no later than Sept. 25.
Reason for debate: “The secretary of state plays a vital role in Indiana’s elections and civic life, and this four-candidate debate will give Hoosiers an opportunity to compare different perspectives on the future of the office,” Elizabeth Bennion, president of the Indiana Debate Commission, said in a press release. “We are grateful to WFYI and media partners across the state for helping make this conversation accessible to voters wherever they live. We hope the debate sparks conversations in communities across Indiana and encourages Hoosiers to learn more about the candidates before casting their ballots.”
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.
