Kosciusko County Republican Chair Mike Ragan shakes hands with Diego Morales earlier this month in Warsaw. On Saturday, state Republicans nominated Morales, choosing him over incumbent Republican Holli Sullivan, who also met with local Republicans. InkFreeNews photo by Dan Spalding.

Staff Report

INDIANAPOLIS — State Republican leaders on Saturday ousted incumbent Secretary of State Holli Sullivan and nominated Diego Morales.

Morales was a former aide to then-governor Mike Pence. His nomination on Saturday came despite documents that show he once was fired from a job in the secretary of state’s office .

Sullivan’s loss is seen as a major blow to the establishment wing of the party. Gov. Eric Holcomb had appointed Sullivan in March 2021.

National media outlets covering the convention reported it was the latest example of a candidate who backed Donald Trump‘s false election claims that could end up overseeing statewide policies for elections.

Morales was previously quoted by the Associated Press as calling the 2020 election a “scam,” according to Newsweek.

He’s criticized Indiana’s election security, and he wants to cut in half the number of early voting days before each election, from 28 days to 14.

Morales will face Democrat Destiny Wells, a U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant colonel and former deputy attorney general, and Libertarian Jeff Maurer on the November general election ballot.

Other nominations include incumbent Tera Klutz for auditor of state, and Daniel Elliott for state treasurer.

Among Republicans from Kosciusko County who attended the state party convention in Indianapolis (front row): Rhonda Helser, Sue Ann Mitchell, Randy Girod (green shirt), Scott Clay, Lynn Howie, Brian Pyle, Austin Rovenstine and Mike Ragan; (second row, on the right side of the pole) Brian Boyer, Monica Boyer, Keeton Bartol, Tyler Haines, Tony Ciriello and Craig Snow. Photo provided.