Knox County Clerk Shelton files for Indiana Secretary of State race

Monday, February 23, 2026 at 8:28 AM

By Staff report

Knox County Clerk David Shelton has officially filed his candidacy for Indiana Secretary of State, becoming the first Republican to enter the race.

Shelton, an experienced election administrator, aims to provide Indiana Republicans with a viable choice that prioritizes professional office management over the persistent scandals that have defined the current administration.

"I am officially in this race because Indiana deserves a Secretary of State who knows how to do the job and actually wants to do the job," said Shelton. "I filed first so Diego can get used to coming in second."

Shelton’s campaign centers on restoring public trust following a series of high-profile controversies involving incumbent Diego Morales. In a press release, the Shelton campaign states that since taking office, Morales has faced intense scrutiny from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers regarding his office's fiscal management and ethical standards.

Shelton, who has overseen elections in Knox County since 2019, positions himself as a "battle-tested" alternative to an incumbent he describes as "battle-scarred from self-inflicted wounds." Shelton brings years of hands-on experience in election administration and private investigation, which he plans to use to weed out fraud and abuse within the Secretary of State’s various divisions.

"Republicans need a candidate they can be proud of—one who focuses on serving Hoosiers rather than self-promotion and campaign kickbacks," Shelton added.

The Republican Convention to nominate a candidate for Secretary of State will take place on June 20, followed by the general election on November 3.

Shelton is the Knox County Clerk and chief election official.