Indiana GOP picks Max Engling as secretary of state nominee

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Max Engling was selected as the Indiana GOP's nominee for secretary of state, beating out incumbent Diego Morales.

According to reporting from FOX59, about 1,800 Republican delegates chose Engling at Saturday's convention at the Grand Wayne Convention Center in Fort Wayne. Along with Morales and Engling, Knox County Clerk David Shelton and former Indiana gubernatorial candidate Jamie Reitenour were vying for the nomination.

Engling, a Hamilton County resident and former senior adviser to U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, will now face Democratic nominee Beau Bayh in the November election. Indiana Democrats selected Bayh as their nominee during the party’s convention earlier this month.

Libertarian candidate Lauri Shillings is also on the ballot, while former Indianapolis Greg Ballard is expected to run as an independent.

"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," Engling said. "Indiana is built by hardworking people who care about faith, family and doing things the right way, and I’d be honored to serve them as Indiana’s next Secretary of State."

Engling previously ran in the Republican primary for Indiana's fifth district seat in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2024, garnering nearly 10% of the vote.

Engling's nomination also comes after Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita and Banks pulled their endorsements for incumbent Morales and endorsed Engling instead. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun said last month he would not endorse a candidate in the race, FOX 59 reported.

"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 in a statement. "...I look forward to running this race ahead together as one Republican party."