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.
