FORT WAYNE — In a major political upset, former congressional staffer Max Engling captured the Republican nomination for Indiana Secretary of State on Saturday, unseating incumbent Diego Morales during the Indiana GOP state convention.
Gathering at the Grand Wayne Convention Center, roughly 1,800 Republican delegates cast their ballots to determine the party’s future election chief. Engling emerged victorious in the second round of voting, securing 53% of the delegate support and finalizing a rapid 31-day ascent from a political staffer to a statewide nominee.
Morales, who has faced persistent controversies during his tenure regarding misspending and accusations of nepotism, saw top party officials, including U.S. Senator Jim Banks and Attorney General Todd Rokita, withdraw their endorsements just weeks before the convention.
Convention Voting Breakdown
The race was a contentious four-way battle that saw conservative activist and former gubernatorial candidate Jamie Reitenour eliminated in the first round. In the final tally, Engling outpaced Knox County Clerk David Shelton, while the incumbent Morales fell to a distant third.
| Candidate | Round 1 Votes | Round 2 Votes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Max Engling | 715 | 867 (53.3%) | Nominee |
| David Shelton | 543 | 627 (38.5%) | Eliminated |
| Diego Morales (Incumbent) | 283 | 134 (8.2%) | Eliminated |
| Jamie Reitenour | 135 | — | Eliminated |
Engling’s Platform and Background
Engling, a 39-year-old Hamilton County resident, recently served as a senior advisor and central Indiana regional director to U.S. Senator Jim Banks. He previously ran in the crowded 2024 Republican primary for Indiana’s 5th Congressional District, capturing nearly 10% of the vote before U.S. Rep. Victoria Spartz secured her reelection.
“I would like to thank my fellow Republican delegates for their support and for nominating me to be our candidate for Secretary of State,” Engling said following the vote. “I’ll fight to keep our elections secure, support Indiana small businesses, and make sure our state government is working the way Hoosiers expect it to.”
Throughout his campaign, Engling emphasized strengthening election security, ensuring only U.S. citizens vote, and championed a promise to close Indiana’s Republican primaries to prevent Democratic crossover voting.
The Road Ahead: November General Election
Engling now advances to the November 3 general election, where the ballot is shaping up to be highly competitive. He will face off against:
- Beau Bayh (Democrat): Nominated during the June 6 Indiana Democratic Party convention (where Coumba Kebe was also nominated for State Treasurer). Bayh quickly criticized Engling’s nomination, stating Hoosiers are tired of “insider dealing” and a waste of taxpayer money.
- Lauri Shillings (Libertarian): A business owner who also previously ran in the 2024 5th Congressional District race.
- Greg Ballard (Independent): The former Republican Mayor of Indianapolis is mounting an independent bid. Ballard announced on Saturday that his campaign has collected at least 52,501 signatures—well beyond the 37,000 verified signatures required by county clerks to formally qualify for the ballot.
As the GOP unifies behind Engling, the party hopes to maintain control over an office critical to overseeing elections, business services, and securities regulation across the state.
