The Indiana Secretary of State race is tightening, with recent political polls indicating a close contest as early voting is set to begin next week. Republican nominee Max Engling and Democrat Beau Bayh appear within a few percentage points of each other, significantly ahead of Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard and Libertarian Lauri Shillings, according to figures circulating online.
A poll conducted by Hoosier Leadership for America, a political group associated with U.S. Sen. Jim Banks, found Engling with 38% support compared to Bayh’s 37%. Shillings garnered 6% support, and Ballard had 5%, with 14% of likely voters undecided in the survey taken from September 27-30. Engling previously served as a top staffer for Senator Banks, who endorsed him for the GOP nomination in May over incumbent Secretary of State Diego Morales.
Meanwhile, Bayh’s campaign released results from an earlier September poll showing Bayh leading Engling 42% to 36%. In that poll, Ballard and Shillings both registered 5% support, and 12% of likely voters were undecided. This survey was conducted between September 1-3, following the start of Bayh’s statewide television advertising campaign, but before Engling’s broadcast ads began in mid-September.
The low figures in these polls for Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard, a former Republican Indianapolis mayor, drew a sharp reaction from his campaign. Ballard’s campaign criticized the Hoosier Leadership for America poll, describing it as originating from a "dark-money group" that allegedly provided an "improper $60,000 contribution" to Engling’s campaign. Ballard’s campaign questioned the poll's accuracy, stating that if his numbers were truly low, there would be no need for groups to spend significant funds to attack him on television.
Libertarian candidate Lauri Shillings expressed encouragement regarding her poll numbers. She noted her 6% support in what she termed a "Republican sponsored poll," and with 14% of voters still undecided, Shillings stated, "Just 10% in this race changes Indiana politics forever." She added that such a result would send a clear message that voters have had enough and will not be manipulated further.
As the election approaches, Monday marks the final day for voter registration for the November 3 election. Early in-person voting is scheduled to commence on Tuesday.
In other campaign news, Engling’s campaign shared a video endorsement on social media from John Schneider, known for his role as "Bo Duke" in the 1980s television series “Dukes of Hazzard.” Schneider, who identifies as "the original Bo" and is a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump from Louisiana, endorsed Engling as "a real conservative, a real Republican with real experience." Schneider also disparaged Bayh in the one-minute video, urging viewers to "listen to this Bo," referring to himself, rather than "the other Beau," whom he called "a cute kid who’s a Democrat running on Republican values and a Republican platform."
