Beau Bayh wins Democratic nomination for secretary of state in Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Bayh won the Democratic party nomination for secretary of state by 61% on Saturday afternoon.

In what has quickly become the marquee political matchup of the year, both Beau Bayh and Blythe Potter said they would bring accountability to the secretary of state’s office. Current Secretary of State Diego Morales, a Republican, has faced bipartisan criticism for actions including purchasing a luxury SUV with state funds, hiring family members, handing out large spot bonuses to his staff and taking numerous international trips for the stated purpose of economic development.

The secretary of state handles business licenses but does not play a role in economic development. That task falls to the Indiana Economic Development Corporation.

In his pitch to delegates, Bayh said it was time to clean house in the office. He said the office, and state government more broadly, are serving the powerful rather than the peoplel.

“We will expose corruption and demand accountability,” he said. “We will protect every taxpayer dollar and work to make it easier to start a small business and grow an existing one. We will protect the integrity of our elections and strengthen confidence in our democracy.”

Potter said she would bring her small business experience to bear on the office and focus on making it more responsive to customers’ needs. She said voters need a real alternative not only to the Republican Party but also to past Democratic efforts.

“We cannot engage the voters by doing things the same way we’ve always done with them,” she said. “When I go to No Kings rallies, every time, I see thousands of Hoosiers asking our state for change, asking our country for change, and we cannot be the party of change if we continue to do things the same old way.”

Republicans will choose their nominee on June 20. Libertarian Lauri Shillings has already secured her party’s nomination and independent Greg Ballard continues to collect signatures to appear on the ballot under the Lincoln Party label.

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