Politics
Trump backs Indiana GOP secretary of state nominee Max Engling after final debate
President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Max Engling on Oct. 22, hours after Engling debated Democrat Beau Bayh in Indiana’s secretary of state race. A recent poll cited in the report showed Bayh leading as the nationally watched contest headed toward Election Day.
President Donald Trump endorsed Max Engling, the Republican nominee for Indiana secretary of state, on Oct. 22, posting his support on Truth Social hours after Engling faced Democratic rival Beau Bayh in their final debate of the campaign.
Trump praised Engling as a “MAGA warrior” and said he would work to safeguard Indiana’s elections. In the post, Trump also called for photo identification and proof of citizenship requirements for voters and accused Democrats of cheating. Those were Trump’s claims and positions, not findings about election fraud.
Engling and Bayh are competing for an office that oversees elections in Indiana. Bayh is the son of former U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh. Greg Ballard, representing the Lincoln Party, and Libertarian Lauri Shillings are also running, but did not meet the polling threshold to take part in the debate.
The endorsement adds to Engling’s support from prominent Republicans: Donald Trump Jr. had also backed him. Engling won the GOP nomination at the party’s June convention, entering the race later than Bayh and replacing incumbent Secretary of State Diego Morales as the Republican nominee.
The contest has drawn national attention. A recent poll conducted by Free Press Indiana showed Bayh ahead of Engling, though the report did not provide the poll’s figures. One earlier political analysis described the race as a toss-up.