Two Generations: Mother and Son Voted Trump. Both Plan to Vote Bayh This November 3rd

Written by Kelly Roberts

Fishers, Indiana — A mother and son out of the Terre Haute area who have voted for Donald Trump in every presidential election they were eligible to cast say they are crossing party lines this fall for Democrat Beau Bayh in the race for Indiana secretary of state.

Dana, who asked that her last name not be used, said she voted for Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Her son, Samuel — who goes by Sam — said he voted for Trump in 2020 and 2024. Both said they plan to vote for Bayh on Nov. 3.

Their choice is a down-ballot exception, not a party switch. They described themselves as Trump voters who are treating the secretary of state’s office as a separate question from the presidential ballot they have already marked.

Bayh, an Indianapolis attorney and former Marine Corps captain, won the Democratic nomination at the state convention on June 6, taking about 61 percent of delegate votes against Blythe Potter. He is the son of former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Evan Bayh and the grandson of former U.S. Sen. Birch Bayh. Republicans have held the secretary of state’s office since 1994.

The general-election field also includes Republican Max Engling, who defeated incumbent Diego Morales at the June 20 Republican convention; former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard, running as an independent on the Lincoln Party line; and Libertarian Lauri Shillings. Ballotpedia has flagged the contest as a battleground.

Bayh has campaigned on an audit of the office and on what he has called insider dealing and misuse of public money under the current administration. Engling has framed the race as a defense of election-integrity laws. Ballard has argued that independents, not either major party, should decide the office.

Dana and Sam said the office that runs elections and keeps state records is the one race where they are willing to leave the Republican line. They said Bayh’s military service and the turmoil around the Republican nomination weighed more with them than the party label on the ballot. Dana’s husband who was a marine died overseas while serving in the military during the Bush Administration.

Indiana voter registration for the Nov. 3 election closes Oct. 5. Early voting runs from Oct. 6 through noon on Nov. 2. Polls on Election Day are open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. local time.

The secretary of state is Indiana’s chief election officer, responsible for election administration, business filings, and state records. The winner will serve a four-year term.