Morales taps transition team
Indiana Capital Chronicle Nov. 21, 2022 Secretary of State-elect Diego Morales (above) on Monday announced a 13-person transition team — co-chaired by a former state office holder — following his easy election night victory. A news release said the team will offer organizational and logistical support and includes individuals with decades of experience in both the public and private sectors. “I am overwhelmed by the support I received from Hoosiers statewide during the campaign and, ultimately, on election night,” he said. “As the 63rd secretary of state, I vow to continue the legacy of the men and women who have…
John Krull commentary: Diego Morales’ message to Democrats
Republican Diego Morales delivered a loud wake-up call for Hoosier Democrats in the 2022 election. Morales, the GOP candidate for Indiana secretary of state, trounced his Democratic opponent, Destiny Wells, by a double-digit margin. Morales did this even though he is perhaps the single most flawed major-party candidate for statewide office in Indiana history. There have been other Hoosier candidates who have inflated or even lied about their military or work records. There also have been hopefuls for public office who have been credibly accused of sexual assault. There even have been politicians who have violated the voting laws. But…
‘MONEY FOLLOWS POWER:’ The totals rolling into Indiana’s race for secretary of state are nearly twice those of recent elections.
The following report was written by Indiana journalists Barb Berggoetz and Steve Hinnefeld for The Indiana Citizen. November 3, 2022 Indiana’s hotly contested and closely watched campaign for secretary of state has drawn more than $2 million in contributions – far more than recent contests for the sometimes overlooked state office. Republican Diego Morales has brought in over $1.2 million, much of it in five- and six-figure contributions from businesses and the state GOP. The amount is comparable to the total raised by all candidates in each of the past two campaigns for the office, $1.3 million in 2014 and…
A CHANCE TO MAKE HISTORY: He’s in it to win it – but with just 10% of the vote, Jeffrey Maurer could give Libertarians something they’ve never had in Indiana.
The following profile, the last of three of the candidates for Indiana secretary of state, was written by Indiana journalists Steve Hinnefeld and Barb Berggoetz for The Indiana Citizen. October 20, 2022 Jeffrey Maurer (above) sees a chance to make his mark in his first run for elected office. As a Libertarian running for secretary of state – an unusually crucial race for third parties in Indiana – he’s not as entirely focused as his Republican and Democratic opponents are on the plurality of the vote needed to win. The Libertarian Party of Indiana broke through in 2020 when its…
‘We’ll speak for him:’ Secretary of State candidates Wells, Maurer skewer Republican Morales as he skips another debate
In what has become a familiar sight, two of the candidates for Indiana secretary of state debated Tuesday before an Indianapolis audience -- this time, the Rotary Club of Indianapolis -- with the sharpest dialogue focused on a third candidate who did not attend. Democrat Destiny Scott Wells (above, left) and Libertarian Jeff Maurer (above, center) briefly engaged one another throughout the debate, primarily over Maurer's advocacy of a 92-county audit of election results to strengthen election security, while repeatedly directing their sharpest criticism to Republican Diego Morales. Morales has not participated in any joint appearances by the candidates for…
HE’S CLEAR ON THIS MUCH: Though beset by questions and prone to changing his mind, Diego Morales remains firm in resisting changes aimed at increasing voter turnout.
The following profile, the second of three of the candidates for Indiana secretary of state, was written by Indiana journalists Steve Hinnefeld and Barb Berggoetz for The Indiana Citizen. October 17, 2022 Diego Morales (above) calls himself a living example of the American dream, a conservative Christian guided by his faith and a proud, successful naturalized citizen. As the Republican candidate for Indiana secretary of state – an office his party has held for nearly three decades – he ordinarily would seem well positioned to become the first Hispanic candidate ever elected to statewide office in Indiana. But he’s battling…
‘A BIT OF A LINE TO WALK:’ A Democrat with a rare shot at breaking the GOP win streak, Destiny Wells sounds a note of caution on pushing too aggressively for reform.
The following profile, the first of three of the candidates for Indiana secretary of state, was written by Indiana journalists Steve Hinnefeld and Barb Berggoetz for The Indiana Citizen. October 14, 2022 Destiny Scott Wells (above) might have the ideal resume for someone running for statewide office in Indiana. At 38, she’s a veteran of Afghanistan who has risen to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a 19-year military career, an attorney and an entrepreneur as well. She grew up on a farm near conservative Martinsville. The challenge? She’s a Democrat running for secretary of state, and Indiana hasn’t elected…
FROM THE INDIANA CITIZEN: 11 QUESTIONS FOR THE NEXT SECRETARY OF STATE — AND HOW THE CANDIDATES ANSWERED
More than in most midterm election years, you’ve probably been hearing about the candidates for secretary of state in Indiana. You’re probably hearing more than a few questions – directed primarily at the Republican nominee, Diego Morales, over his portrayal of his military service, allegations of inappropriate conduct toward women in his past and his difficult employment history in the very office that he’s seeking. They’re all important questions. But at The Indiana Citizen, we have quite a few more – 11 to be exact, relating to what we see as an issue at the very heart of this election:…
With Morales again absent, Secretary of State candidate debate pits election security fears vs. confidence
By Leslie Bonilla Muniz Indiana Capital Chronicle Oct. 11, 2022 The two candidates who participated in an Indiana Secretary of State debate Monday night — Democrat Destiny Wells (above, right) and Libertarian Jeff Maurer (above, center) — differed sharply on election security, with divergent viewpoints that led to disparate signature policy stances. Maurer repeatedly highlighted proposals to print “receipts” for voters and conduct pre-certification audits for all 92 Hoosier counties to boost voter trust in elections, while Wells emphasized her confidence in Indiana’s systems and accused Maurer of perpetuating Trump-esque election fear-mongering. “I can’t tell you how many of our…
Abdul-Hakim Shabazz commentary: Leggo their Diego
Okay, I will freely admit to stealing that headline from an anti-Diego Morales mailer when he ran for Congress in the 4th District in 2018. However, I find the title fitting because it's the best way I can describe Morales' supporters, especially in light of recent news surrounding the candidate. Where do we start? Getting fired from the office under then Secretary of State Todd Rokita, quitting the office before getting fired by Charlie White, spending $43,000 of campaign funds on a vehicle when with a little bit of effort, he could have got it for free, or at least…
Could Morales allegations tilt Secretary of State’s race?
By Leslie Bonilla Muniz Indiana Capital Chronicle Oct. 4, 2022 Republican Secretary of State candidate Diego Morales (above) has fielded controversy since his first unsuccessful bid for public office in 2018, but could a pair of sexual misconduct allegations less than a month before Election Day endanger his latest campaign? Two longtime former Republicans divulged decade-old allegations of sexual assaults in interview transcripts published this week by political columnist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz. One woman, who the Indiana Capital Chronicle also interviewed, said she was 22 in 2009, starting her first job out of college under then Secretary of State Todd Rokita, a Republican.…
Latest poll: Democratic candidate holds lead in secretary of state race
A new poll indicates tight races for Indiana secretary of state and U.S. Senate, with the Republican candidates losing by four percentage points and winning by just two, respectively. The 600-person poll from Sept. 25 and 26 was administered by ARW Strategies and Indy Politics. (The Statehouse File publishes opinion articles from Indy Politics’ editor and publisher, Abdul-Hakim Shabazz.) In the secretary of state race, the poll is currently predicting an possible upset of Republican candidate Diego Morales (above, center) by Democrat Destiny Wells (above, left), who has 36% of the vote. Her lead is just within the poll's margin of error of 4 percentage…
Morales responds to sexual harassment allegations
Abdul Hakim Shabazz, editor of IndyPolitics.org and a frequent Statehouse File columnist, has published an article in which two women accuse Republican secretary of state candidate Diego Morales (above) of sexual harassment. The article did not identify the women. “The claims being made against me are false and I unequivocally deny all of them,” Morales told IndyPolitics.org Friday. Shortly after the release of the article, Democratic candidate Destiny Wells issued a statement, saying, “While this race has been focused on safeguarding our right to vote, we too must safeguard a woman’s right to exist in the workplace free of sexual harassment and assault.” Libertarian Jeff Maurer also weighed in: “These are very serious allegations that…
Secretary of state candidates Wells and Maurer debate Tuesday while Morales’ chair sits empty
The chair reserved for Republican candidate Diego Morales sat empty at an Election Law Forum featuring the candidates for Indiana secretary of state Tuesday. The Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Indiana hosted the forum, with APABA-IN president G. Michael Witte (above, left) moderating the exchange between Democratic candidate Destiny Wells (center) and Libertarian candidate Jeff Maurer (right). Wells and Maurer answered a plethora of questions over 90 minutes, sometimes but not always finding areas of agreement. Secretary of state and election laws Both candidates gave similar answers when asked what the role of the secretary of state is in…
John Krull commentary: When night is day and down is up
Anyone who wants to understand just how much Donald Trump has transformed the Republican Party should look no further than the GOP’s candidate for Indiana secretary of state, Diego Morales. Morales, it seems, is a dues-paying member of the scandal-a-day club. The most recent one to dog his campaign involves questions about his service in the National Guard. Morales has called himself a “veteran,” even though his time in uniform doesn’t meet the federal definition for using that term. There also is uncertainty about how he left the service. In and of itself, this wouldn’t be that big a deal.…
No Libertarian has won statewide office—but Maurer hopes to close the gap
Libertarian Jeff Maurer hopes to make election history in Indiana, and he can do that in November, by being elected Secretary of State since his party has never won a statewide office here. But Maurer says he also aims to make voters feel more confident in the election process at a time when public trust is at risk. He announced his candidacy in August 2021 but officially threw his hat in the ring for secretary of state after winning his party’s nomination in March. Maurer said he moved to Carmel in 2013 “for a better quality of life, after being…
Could Wells be first Democratic secretary of state in almost 30 years?
In 2016, Destiny Wells (above) was on deployment in Afghanistan—a time that would spark her decision to run for Indiana office. When she was first deployed, she flew out with President Barack Obama as her commander in chief. At the time, due to the widespread assumption that Hillary Clinton would beat Donald Trump in the presidential election that year, she thought that she would be flying home under the first woman commander in chief. “I started thinking, when I get home, I feel like I need to do more,” Wells said. Wells became a lawyer, an Indiana deputy attorney general…
YOUR MOST IMPORTANT CHOICE ON THE 2022 BALLOT? AN OFFICE ‘AT THE VERY HEART OF OUR DEMOCRACY’
To launch our coverage of Indiana’s election of a new secretary of state, the following report was written by Indiana journalists Barb Berggoetz and Steve Hinnefeld for The Indiana Citizen. Sept. 20, 2022 Indiana will elect a new secretary of state in November as a fresh spotlight glares on these once-obscure offices across the nation – with most of the officeholders, as in Indiana, elected to serve as their state’s chief elections officer in a time of deepening concerns over continuing threats to democracy. State-level elections for secretary of state are typically routine affairs in which voters reliably cast ballots for…
Morales tries to make campaign messages heard over ongoing controversies
Diego Morales wants to tell voters why he’s running and what he’d do if elected as Indiana secretary of state. But with a campaign beset by scrutiny and controversy, the Republican candidate is often forced on the defensive. Morales immigrated with his family from Guatemala to Sellersburg, Indiana, where he attended high school, and he uses that to frame his run. “It is important for me to make sure that all others will have the same opportunities as me to register to vote and be part of the election process,” Morales said. “And in order for me to continue to…
‘We all use that word, actually:’ GOP Secretary of State nominee Morales responds to criticism of using ‘veteran’ to describe himself
Diego Morales (above), Republican candidate for Indiana secretary of state, on Friday defended his claim to being a veteran after an Indianapolis newspaper columnist and Indiana Democrats questioned his military service. Morales said in an interview with The Statehouse File that he considers himself a veteran. “I tell you this: We all use that word, actually,” Morales said of service members who enlisted. He added that he’d leave the legal definitions to others, saying he knows he’s “in compliance to the law and … so proud to have served the greatest country on earth, the United States of America.” “Morales’…
Morales walks back early voting limits idea
By Leslie Bonilla Muniz Indiana Capital Chronicle Sept. 13, 2022 Diego Morales (above), the Republican candidate for Indiana Secretary of State, is walking back a proposal to cut early voting as well as softening comments on the 2020 election. The Secretary of State is Indiana’s highest election official. Morales previously said he wanted to slash the state’s 28-day early voting period in half, and called the 2020 election a “scam,” according to the Associated Press. But since his overwhelming convention victory in June, when he ousted Gov. Eric Holcomb appointee Holli Sullivan, he’s moderated some of the rhetoric in a pull…
Sheila Kennedy commentary: A down-ballot threat
August 1, 2022 A recent article from Time Magazine highlighted yet another threat to American democracy–and this particular threat is especially worrisome, because it involves political contests that voters rarely focus on. In our highly polarized era, most voters no longer split their tickets, and few even bother to look “down ballot”–beyond the more publicized races to local contests. That lack of attention could be especially costly this year. As the Time article reported, the midterm elections will see numerous “election deniers — MAGA hardliners who trumpet former President Donald Trump’s lie that the 2020 presidential election was stolen” running for positions that oversee…
Morales seeks unity as opponents campaign off controversy
By Leslie Bonilla Muniz Indiana Capital Chronicle June 29, 2022 The race for Indiana’s next Secretary of State – typically a low-interest, down-ballot contest – has become a referendum on the future of the Indiana Republican Party with a rare statewide opportunity for hopeful Democrats. Republican insiders earlier this month voted to nominate former Mike Pence aide Diego Morales (above, left), ousting incumbent Holli Sullivan by a vote of 847-561. Gov. Eric Holcomb appointed her to the role in March 2021. “I have a vision for the Office of the Indiana Secretary of State that delegates believed in and overwhelmingly endorsed…
Secretary of State Sullivan ousted from GOP ticket in convention vote
June 18, 2022 Incumbent Secretary of State Holli Sullivan was defeated Saturday afternoon in a vote by Indiana State Republican Party convention delegates who gave a majority to challenger Diego Morales on the second ballot. Sullivan, a former state representative who was appointed to the office in 2021 after the resignation of Connie Lawson, received 561 votes to Morales' 847, which gave the challenger a majority of the convention votes needed for nomination. Morales will face Democrat Destiny Wells, who was nominated without opposition Saturday in Indiana Democrats' state convention, and Libertarian Jeff Maurer in the November election. The Republican…