Indiana Republican Party

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and the state Republican Party are committing $1 million to a statewide ad buy backing GOP secretary of state candidate Max Engling, as the race draws unusual national attention. The money is split evenly between Braun's gubernatorial campaign account and the Indiana Republican Party, with two new ads set to air by the end of the week answering ads already run by Democrat Beau Bayh.

The race also features Greg Ballard, a former Republican Indianapolis mayor running as an independent under a new "Lincoln Party," and Libertarian Lauri Shillings. Bayh, son of former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh, has significantly outraised Engling, who entered the race in May with backing from U.S. Sen. Jim Banks after incumbent Diego Morales lost the GOP nomination amid scandal. A University of Virginia political analysis recently reclassified the contest as a "toss up," calling it possibly the most competitive secretary of state race in the country this year. The election is set for Nov. 3.