Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard is returning to the political arena, announcing Wednesday that he will run for Indiana Secretary of State as an independent candidate in what could become a high-profile three-way statewide race.
Ballard, who served two terms as mayor from 2008 to 2016, said his campaign is built around the idea that Indiana’s elections should be overseen by someone independent of both major political parties.
“Both political parties are broken, and we’re the ones paying the price,” Ballard said in a statement announcing his campaign. “When politics becomes this toxic, it’s essential to have an independent voice overseeing our elections. In Indiana, that’s the job of our Secretary of State.”
Ballard enters the race with a lengthy background in public service. A 23-year veteran of the United States Marine Corps who retired as a lieutenant colonel, he was first elected mayor of Indianapolis in 2007 in a surprise victory over Democratic incumbent Bart Peterson. During his eight years leading the state’s largest city, Ballard guided Indianapolis through the Great Recession, oversaw major infrastructure initiatives, and helped secure the 2012 Super Bowl.
Now, nearly a decade after leaving office, Ballard says he believes Indiana voters are ready for a candidate who operates outside the traditional two-party system.
Polling released by Ballard’s campaign suggests the race could quickly become competitive if it turns into a three-way contest. A survey conducted last fall found Democrat Beau Bayh leading with 31.5 percent, followed by incumbent Republican Secretary of State Diego Morales with 28.5 percent and Ballard with 23.8 percent. About 16 percent of voters were undecided.
Among younger voters ages 18 to 34, the same polling showed Ballard leading the field.
Ballard also pointed to broader political trends, arguing that Indiana voters are increasingly identifying as independent. According to a statewide survey cited by the campaign, 41 percent of Indiana voters say they identify as independents, compared with 29 percent Republicans and 21 percent Democrats.
Ballard said his campaign will focus on two primary goals: providing independent oversight of Indiana’s election system and helping make it easier for non-party candidates to access the ballot in the future.
“During the past few years, I’ve met so many good people who want to step up and serve like I did, but don’t feel like they have a place in either party,” Ballard said. “Like me, they’re on the outside looking in.”
Ballard said his campaign could also help open the ballot to more independent candidates in future elections by demonstrating that a viable statewide campaign can be run outside the traditional party structure.
His entry into the race immediately drew reaction from the Indiana Democratic Party, which criticized the move and argued that it could complicate efforts to defeat Morales in November.
In a statement, Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian said that while Republicans may be dissatisfied with Morales, running another Republican as an independent is “a waste of time, money, and effort better spent defeating Diego Morales at the ballot box.”
Ballard, however, said his campaign is aimed at voters rather than parties.
“I will not be the Republican or Democratic Secretary of State,” Ballard said. “I will be your Secretary of State.”
Photo: International Center
