Former GOP mayor plans independent run for secretary of state

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By Niki Kelly
Indiana Capital Chronicle

Former Republican Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is shaking up Indiana’s race for secretary of state by announcing a run as an independent Wednesday.

He will have to gather nearly 37,000 petition signatures to get on the ballot, and raise millions to be competitive in just a few months.

“I’m doing this for the people, and I think they deserve a really nonpartisan, low-key professional in that office, and that’s what I intend to do,” Ballard told the Indiana Capital Chronicle.

The retired, two-term mayor has kept busy writing a book — Urban Republican Mayor: My Story — and has been weighing in on various topics in recent months. He came out against early redistricting and has talked about data centers, food assistance and the filibuster. He now lives in Boone County.

There are multiple candidate choices on both the Republican and Democrat side, but Ballard said 41% of voters consider themselves to be independent and are looking for something different.

“That’s a pretty wide swatch to walk down,” he said. “I’m kind of disaffected by the path that both parties are taking and … I think there are people in the Democratic and Republican party who are kind of looking for something different, too. And so, this makes sense to me.”

The secretary of state’s race will be the top statewide race on the Indiana ballot this year. Republican and Democratic nominees will be decided at the party conventions in June.

Current GOP Secretary of State Diego Morales’s renomination bid is being opposed by Knox County Clerk David Shelton and Jamie Reitenour, who unsuccessfully sought the 2024 Republican bid for governor.

Political legacy and Marine veteran Beau Bayh faces a Democratic challenge from Blythe Potter, a small business owner and Army veteran from Bargersville.

But Ballard — a retired lieutenant colonel from the United States Marine Corps — said he’s not in this as a spoiler.

“I’m in this to win it,” he said.

Ballard was elected mayor of Indianapolis in 2007 with his upset of incumbent Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson. He was re-elected in 2011 but decided not to seek a third term.

He said people have approached him about running for various offices since then, but his heart wasn’t in those.

Ballard chose not to characterize Morales’ first term in office — instead focusing on a few changes he would make immediately.

The former mayor said the state’s top election officer shouldn’t be involved in political races. He promised not to endorse, campaign for or donate to a candidate running for office.

Ballard also said Indiana should join a growing list of states providing a nonpartisan voter’s guide introducing the candidates, explaining voting mechanics, providing information on ballot measures and more.

“Hopefully that would increase people going to the polls. They won’t be so disengaged, and would have knowledge going into the polls,” he said.

Ballard will hire a national firm to help gather signatures. He plans to submit 50,000 to ensure he meets the 36,943 number for an independent to make the ballot.

Ballard said he thinks he will have to raise about $2 million to be competitive. He will open an exploratory campaign finance committee today but can’t technically file to run until he gathers the signatures.

Bayh raised $1.8 million last year and ended 2025 with nearly $1.6 million available.

That compares to the $500,000 raised by Morales for the year and his campaign’s $1.2 million available.

Those figures already put the secretary of state campaigns well ahead of spending for the entire 2022 cycle, when Morales raised $1.3 million and Democratic challenger Destiny Wells raised $860,000.

State of the secretary’s race

A recent poll shows Ballard might have a shot.

Independent Indiana — a group aimed at supporting independent political candidates in Indiana — on Monday released the results of a poll conducted last fall showing Ballard with support from nearly one-quarter of voters in a hypothetical matchup against Morales and Bayh.

“We think it’s important for people to know that if he were to decide to run, that he would be a viable candidate,” said Nathan Gotsch, executive director of the group. “Historically, independent candidates have not met that threshold, but I think that he is very unique in that respect.”

Results from the poll found Bayh with 31.5% support, followed by Morales at 28.5% and Ballard at 23.8%, with 16.3% undecided.

The poll was conducted Oct. 24-Nov. 1 by InAct, an Indianapolis-based market research firm, through an online survey of 400 likely general election voters with a margin of error of 4.9%, according to Independent Indiana.

Gotsch declined to say which other potential independents were included in the poll or identify the group’s funding sources. He said Ballard has not been involved with Independent Indiana but that he has talked with the former mayor about a possible campaign.

“You couldn’t get numbers back like this and not at least reach out to people close to him and see if this is something that he might consider,” Gotsch said. “So, we have had some of those conversations.”

The Morales campaign dismissed the Independent Indiana results, saying it “will not be misled by ‘polling’ data suggesting a tight race.”

“Secretary Morales welcomes all challengers,” the campaign said in a statement. “With the resources and a proven track record, he is ready to go toe-to-toe with anyone.”

Bayh’s campaign expressed confidence in the poll results.

“This race is a referendum on Diego Morales’s tenure as secretary of state and this poll reiterates that Beau Bayh is the only candidate in the race that can defeat him and put an end to his blatant corruption,” Bayh campaign manager Jack Tormoehlen said.

Ballard acknowledged he will have to overcome straight-ticket voting to win.

“I already know people are excited … and we’re going to have to tell them the mechanics of making sure ‘don’t push that button. Push this button instead.”

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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

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