Beau Bayh, 29, announced his candidacy for Secretary of State for the Democratic Party on Oct. 6. Bayh is the son of former Democratic Governor and Senator Evan Bayh. Evan Bayh served Indiana for over 20 years in several offices, and his first political office was also Secretary of State. If elected, he would continue a Hoosier political dynasty stretching back to his grandfather, former Senator Birch Bayh, in the 1950s.

Bayh describes himself as a seventh-generation Hoosier, born in Indiana. He served in the Marines, where he obtained the rank of Captain and graduated from the Scout Sniper Unit Leader’s Course. He also attended Harvard University, where he earned both his undergraduate and law degrees.

In a video announcing his candidacy, Beau Bayh criticized incumbent Secretary of State Diego Morales, a Republican, who has faced controversy over the conduct of his office.

“The Secretary of State’s office is exactly what’s wrong with our politics,” Bayh said. “Instead of serving Hoosiers, that office has been used to cut backroom deals with our tax dollars, handing out perks to politicians and their insider friends.”

Bayh laid out his plans for office in that same video, including:

• Accountability for every tax dollar, saying he’ll call out corruption, wasteful spending and government abuse wherever he finds it.
• Oppose taxes that are crushing working families.
• Make sure elections are secure and fair.
• Support the thousands of new businesses that create jobs and fuel our economy.

He stated he intended to serve one group, the people, and to have one goal, the common good.

Morales has faced controversy throughout his political career, especially during his tenure as Secretary of State, the earliest controversies starting in 2018. Morales first ran for political office in 2018 for Indiana’s 4th Congressional District, which at the time covered all of Cass County. He was criticized in the election for exaggerating his experience in politics and the military, and he ultimately lost the Republican primary to Jim Baird.

Morales was elected as Secretary of State in 2022, and during the election, he was criticized for using campaign funds to buy a $43,000 car, calling himself a veteran and was accused of sexually assaulting two women. Since his tenure, criticisms have continued: hiring his brother at a salary of $108,000, giving bonuses to every employee in his office, giving no-bid contracts to companies that donated to his campaign, taking international trips, one to India and another to Hungary, and purchasing a $90,000 car with taxpayer funds from a dealership that donated to his campaign. Morales also endorsed Trump’s claims of election fraud in 2020 before walking back the statements.

Morales currently faces an investigation from the Marion County Election Board over whether he violated election laws with a campaign video that featured a clip of him on a visit to the Election Service Center in Marion County on Election Day.

Morales has stated his intention to run for reelection, but faces primary challenges from James Reitenour and David Shelton, with Andrew Ireland also a potential challenger.

Bayh faces off against Blythe Potter, a small business owner and veteran, in the Democratic primary.

Laura Shillings is currently running unopposed for the Libertarian Party. The general election for Secretary of State will be held on Nov. 3, 2026.