Update: Knox County Clerk David Shelton announced in a May 7 press release that he is running for secretary of state against Morales.
Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales, who has faced criticism from numerous officials in recent months for a privately-funded 10-day trip to India that resulted in action from state lawmakers, announced on May 1 he plans to run for reelection in 2026.
In a five-minute video posted on X, a voiceover says Morales in his first term has “fought for secure elections and a thriving economy” for Hoosiers. Morales is running for reelection because there is “more to be done,” the voiceover says.
“There is still work to do, but together we will continue to build an Indiana where everyone can succeed, where our elections are secure and where Hoosiers come first,” Morales, a Republican, says at the end of the video.
Together, we have worked to protect our elections, build a friendly business environment, and hold bad actors accountable. But there is more work to be done. That is why I am announcing my reelection as Indiana Secretary of State. pic.twitter.com/gQVUKr8BAR
But Morales has also received criticism from both Republicans and Democrats for various actions he has taken while in office. In 2023, after he was sworn in, Morales faced controversy over hiring his brother-in-law for a position in the Dealer Services division of his office that comes with a six-figure salary. In 2024, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported Morales’ office signed multiple contracts without competitive bidding worth millions of dollars, actions that prompted state lawmakers to pass legislation during the 2025 session to cut down on no-bid contracts and increase transparency on how the state spends its money.
This year, IndyStar reported that Morales’ office in 2024 purchased a taxpayer-funded $90,000 GMC Yukon Denali that came from a car dealer that had donated $65,000 to his campaign since October 2022.
Additionally, Morales has faced questions over who funded his trip to India. In the two-year state budget passed last week, lawmakers approved a requirement for statewide elected officials, the governor and the governor’s cabinet to file annual reports with the state budget committee with details on where they’ve traveled, why and with what state funds. Gov. Mike Braun has until May 6 to take action on the budget bill.
Morales was elected Secretary of State in 2022 during a campaign season that saw controversy and questions about his background, including allegations of sexual assault by two women that Morales has strongly denied. Morales, who is in his first term, was previously fired from one job in the Secretary of State’s office and resigned from another following questions about his performance.
Will Morales see Republican challengers?
Hoosier voters don’t get to cast primary ballots for certain statewide offices, including the Secretary of State. That means Republican party insiders will decide in summer 2026 whether Morales will be the party’s nominee for Secretary of State. But Morales appears likely to have at least one convention challenger in 2026, if not more.
Knox County Clerk David Shelton, a Republican, told IndyPolitics that he plans to challenge Morales, although Shelton had not officially filed any paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office as of May 1. Shelton said he wants to put the Secretary of State’s office “back in its lane” and called out Morales’ foreign trips.
“I’m running for Indiana Secretary of State, I’m not the U.S. Secretary of State,” Shelton told IndyPolitics. “Any international travel I do will never be on the taxpayers’ dime.”
Some other Republicans also appear hopeful that state treasurer Daniel Elliott will run against Morales, according to a story from Importantville. Elliott hasn’t ruled it out, telling Importantville in March that he was “grateful for the support and encouragement from leaders across our state to serve in a different capacity.”
The person tapped by Republican insiders next summer, whether Morales or someone else, will face whomever Indiana Democrats pick in their 2026 convention. The general election is in November 2026.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at brittany.carloni@indystar.com. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.
Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@indystar.com.
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This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Secretary of State Diego Morales announces 2026 reelection bid. Will he see challengers?
Reporting by Brittany Carloni and Hayleigh Colombo, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
