Jamie Reitenour, a former gubernatorial candidate and mother of five, will square off with three fellow Republicans at the Indiana GOP convention June 20 in the secretary of state’s race.
The Fishers, Indiana, resident has framed herself as a grassroots candidate dedicated to implementing a slate of changes to election administration, including nixing early voting and requiring paper ballots.
She faces current Secretary of State Diego Morales, Knox County Clerk David Shelton and Max Engling, a former staffer for U.S. Sen. Jim Banks. Whoever emerges from the convention will be up against Democrat Beau Bayh and Libertarian Lauri Shillings. Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, who’s running on the Lincoln Party ticket, is currently in the process of gathering signatures to secure a spot on the ballot.
Reitenour is somewhat of an underdog in the race but should be familiar to most of the party faithful after her unsuccessful bid for governor. It all comes down to the delegates, who must consider how candidates might fare in a match-up with the well-financed and well-known Bayh.
IndyStar sat down with Reitenour as part of the “Meet the Candidates” series to talk about her priorities, what role the office should play and whether she agrees with claims that the 2020 election was stolen, despite widespread evidence to the contrary. Engling and Morales have not agreed to participate, and Shelton declined the interview. Watch Bayh’s interview, completed before he became the Democratic nominee, here.
Contact breaking politics reporter Marissa Meador at mmeador@indystar.com or find her on X at @marissa_meador.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Watch: This Republican wants to end early voting. First she has to beat Diego Morales
Reporting by Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Marissa Meador, Indianapolis Star | USA TODAY Network
