Indiana’s 7th District House Race: Who Will Win

The Marion County Clerk's Office says the U.S. Department of Justice will send "election monitors" to the county for the November midterm election. The Marion County Election Board was notified of the plan but has not been told what specifically the monitors will do beyond observing election processes for federal law compliance. Officials say Marion and Lake counties are the only two Indiana counties receiving monitors, and both are represented in Congress by the state's only Democratic federal lawmakers. Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell said the office wasn't informed of the criteria used or why these counties were chosen, but says the board has a plan in place, including a recent policy on poll worker interactions with federal officials, to ensure a smooth, lawful election.

Independent candidate Greg Ballard, a former Republican Indianapolis mayor now running in Indiana's secretary of state race, has called on the state legislature to make the office nonpartisan. His proposal would bar the secretary of state from endorsing candidates, fundraising for parties, holding party leadership roles, or speaking at political events, while still allowing a sitting officeholder to campaign for reelection and retain voting and party-registration rights. Ballard urged the other three candidates to pledge to avoid partisan activity if elected.

Republican candidate Max Engling's campaign did not directly address the proposal, noting existing law already bars using the office for campaign functions. Democrat Beau Bayh's campaign rejected it, arguing officeholders shouldn't lose personal political rights. Libertarian Lauri Shillings also declined, saying it would force her to give up party membership, and instead proposed recusing herself from matters involving candidates she has backed.

The debate follows past controversies, including Republican Todd Rokita's taxpayer-funded mailers as secretary of state and current officeholder Diego Morales' attendance at a Republican National Committee convention as a delegate.

Following a FOX59/CBS4 debate, Democrat Beau Bayh and Republican Max Engling agreed on core Secretary of State issues like voter participation and prosecuting illegal voting, but split sharply on investigating current officeholder Diego Morales and on dueling campaign ad attacks. Engling called Bayh's investigation approach unserious, favoring an inspector general-led review, and said Bayh strayed into unrelated issues; he also said he's considering a defamation suit over Bayh's ads. Bayh countered that Engling can't differentiate himself from Morales and pledged to personally pursue accountability. The race, triggered by Morales's convention loss, has drawn heavy spending ahead of Indiana's Nov. 3 election.

Following a FOX59/CBS4 debate between Democrat Beau Bayh and Republican Max Engling, Indiana's minor-party Secretary of State candidates, Lincoln Party's Greg Ballard and Libertarian Lauri Shillings, gave their own reactions. Both were excluded from the debate after polling below 10% support, with Bayh and Engling drawing the bulk of backing in a prior Free Press Indiana poll. Ballard and Shillings criticized the major candidates' sparring, pledged to avoid negative campaigning, and said they would have refused to share voter rolls with the federal government. Both also questioned the U.S. Department of Justice's plan to send election monitors to Marion and Lake counties for the midterms. Election Day is November 3, with early voting already underway.

A new Free Press Indiana/Bellwether Research poll shows Democrat Beau Bayh leading Republican Max Engling in the race for Indiana Secretary of State, 43% to 35%. Libertarian Lauri Shillings drew 6% and Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, a former Indianapolis mayor, drew 5%, with 11% undecided. The race drew heightened attention after incumbent Diego Morales lost his GOP renomination bid at the party's June convention. Bayh led in most regions, including Indianapolis and the Chicago/South Bend/Elkhart/Lafayette area, while Engling performed best around Fort Wayne. Bayh also posted the highest favorability rating among the four candidates, while more than 40% of voters said they had never heard of Engling, Ballard or Shillings.

The same survey of 896 registered voters, conducted Oct. 8-11 with a margin of error of ±3.4%, found Democrat Jessica Bailey narrowly ahead in the State Comptroller race and Republican Daniel Elliott leading in the State Treasurer contest. Indiana's general election is Nov. 3, with absentee ballot applications due Oct. 22.

Indiana's congressional delegation and Gov. Mike Braun are pressing President Trump for major disaster declarations covering two separate severe weather events. The first request, submitted by Braun on Aug. 6 and now backed by both U.S. senators and all nine House members, addresses a June 6-26 outbreak of 58 tornadoes, a derecho, and flash flooding — Indiana's largest one-month tornado outbreak on record. That event killed two people, injured a dozen more, damaged over 1,200 structures, and displaced roughly 210 residents, with Lake County alone facing more than $33.9 million in infrastructure repairs.

Separately, storms and flooding beginning Aug. 11 have killed at least seven people, displaced over 1,000 residents, and prompted Trump to approve a Presidential Emergency Declaration. Braun has activated the National Guard, State Police, and other agencies, opened a $5,000 emergency aid grant program, and enabled emergency SNAP replacements. Officials are pursuing an additional major disaster declaration for the August storms to unlock federal individual assistance for uninsured and underinsured residents.

Indiana's registration deadline for the November general election is Oct. 5, according to the Secretary of State's Office. Early voting begins Oct. 6 at circuit court clerk offices and satellite locations. Residents can register online through the Indiana Voters website; eligibility requires U.S. citizenship, being at least 18 by Election Day, and residing in a precinct for at least 30 days beforehand.

The ballot covers federal, state and local races, including U.S. Representatives, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, State Senator, State Representatives, and county, city and township contests. Voters wanting to cast an absentee ballot, including by mail, must submit applications by Oct. 22. Hoosiers can verify their registration status or update information via the Indiana Voters website or by contacting their local county election office. Election Day falls on Nov. 3.
Indiana's voter registration deadline is Oct. 5, with early voting starting Oct. 6 ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

A federal grand jury has indicted Randy Bond, 52, of Fortville, Indiana, on wire fraud charges for submitting fraudulent Paycheck Protection Program and Economic Injury Disaster Loan applications, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Indiana.

Investigators say Bond carried out the scheme between July 2020 and October 2021, falsely claiming he owned and operated a car wash, an automotive repair business, and a pet care business with substantial payroll expenses. He submitted four applications and received a total of $101,333 in relief funds, which he allegedly spent on personal purchases at retailers including Best Buy and Total Wine rather than legitimate business costs.

Bond worked as a field examiner for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, a role in which he assisted veterans relying on financial assistance. He made his first appearance in federal court on September 16.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun's office has launched a new texting service to help residents affected by recent severe storms find disaster recovery resources. Hoosiers can text IN211HELP to 898-211 to access the Indiana 211 program, which connects users to state relief efforts, including the Disaster Relief Fund's emergency aid grants, housing assistance, and emergency SNAP benefit replacement information.

The 24/7 platform prompts users for their zip code and the type of assistance needed, then texts back a list of relevant local resources. Users can repeat the process to search for additional categories of help. The service follows President Trump's approval of a major disaster declaration for several Indiana counties, unlocking federal funding as the state continues its recovery from the storms.