By Sydney Byerly
The Indiana Citizen
October 19, 2026
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith is urging Hoosiers to “think biblically about the issues and individuals who shape our government” when voting in November, releasing a slate of candidate endorsements and ballot recommendations for the 2026 general election.
“Our faith should inform every area of our lives, including how we approach the ballot box,” the first-term Republican wrote in a social media post announcing the recommendations.
Beckwith, a self-described Christian nationalist who continues to serve as a pastor in Hamilton County, cited Proverbs 29:2 in his post: “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.” He said pastors should speak about religious liberty, the sanctity of life and what he described as God-given rights.
“The pulpit should never become a place of partisan control, but neither should it become a place of silence when biblical principles are at stake,” Beckwith wrote.
His endorsement list includes 27 candidates for state and local offices, along with a recommendation to retain Court of Appeals Judge Paul A. Felix. The recommendations cover congressional, legislative, county, township and school board races in Hamilton County, with at least 24 of the candidates running in contested races. Beckwith also outlined his positions on two proposed constitutional amendments, and on school referendums.
Beckwith said the recommendations reflect his personal perspective, based on relationships, conversations and experience with candidates. He cautioned that the list is not exhaustive and that a candidate’s absence should not be interpreted as a judgment of their character or qualifications.
Beckwith endorsed Republican Max Engling for secretary of state and incumbent Elise Nieshalla for state comptroller, two of the three Republican nominees for statewide office. He did not include state Treasurer Daniel Elliott, who is also seeking reelection.
Beckwith and Elliott have publicly feuded over Beckwith’s remarks about Muslims, including comments he made on the anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The lieutenant governor is also endorsing U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz, who represents Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, in a bitter battle with former Democratic state senator J.D. Ford. Beckwith previously ran against Spartz in the 2020 Republican primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, garnering 12.7% of the vote.
In addition, Beckwith is endorsing seven Republican candidates for state House and Senate seats who are all facing Democratic challengers this November.
Among his legislative picks are House Speaker Todd Huston and state Rep. Hunter Smith, a Zionsville Republican who co-authored a bill which would have required public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, during the 2026 legislative session. Lawmakers later amended it to make displays optional, but the proposal failed to advance to final passage.
Also, Beckwith has endorsed Paul G. Nix who is challenging incumbent Democratic Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn.
Beckwith also endorsed Republican candidates for county council, sheriff, recorder, township trustee and township board, as well as judicial candidates.
Of the candidates running for school board seats in Hamilton County, Beckwith singled out Denise M. Dye, a candidate for Noblesville Schools’ board.
Dye is one of three Republicans competing for two at-large seats. Beckwith’s endorsement document does not explain why he selected Dye over the other Noblesville candidates or why he did not recommend candidates in other Hamilton County school board races.
He has previously spoken about the importance of local school board elections and conservative involvement in education policy. His post announcing the endorsements encourages voters to study candidates’ records and make informed decisions, but does not identify specific education policies that guided his choice of Dye.
Beckwith has previously campaigned against school referendums, including door-knocking in 2025 to oppose an Avon Community Schools property-tax referendum. He argued that rising property taxes were putting pressure on homeowners and that school districts should find ways to improve services without asking families to pay more.
His opposition comes as 38 Indiana school districts seek voter approval for property-tax referendums in November, a record for a single election cycle, to fund school operations, construction and other needs.
He said he plans to vote against proposed constitutional amendments that would allow more people to be denied bail and would loosen residency requirements for local judges.
Beckwith also recommended retaining Felix, one of three Court of Appeals judges facing retention votes, but did not explain why. He said his default position on judicial retention is no unless he knows the judge or has enough information about the judge’s record.
Beckwith encouraged voters to examine candidates, study their records, seek wisdom through prayer and make informed decisions.
“Our responsibility as Christians doesn’t end with preaching about what is good, right, and true,” he wrote. “We are also called to live out those convictions in the public square.”
Sydney Byerly is a political reporter who grew up in New Albany, Indiana. Before joining The Citizen, Sydney reported news for TheStatehouseFile.com and most recently managed and edited The Corydon Democrat & Clarion News in southern Indiana. She earned her bachelor’s in journalism at Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism (‘Sco Griz!).
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.
