Secretary of State Diego Morales, left, at the 2025 National Election Conference in June 2025. After taking heat for back-to-back international trips, other Republicans are lining up to challenge the incumbent in 2026. Photo from the official Indiana Secretary of State X account.

By Whitney Downard
Indiana Capital Chronicle

INDIANAPOLIS — As Secretary of State Diego Morales takes heat for back-to-back international trips that blurred personal and professional lines, Republican hopefuls see an opportunity to challenge the embattled politician and establish themselves in contrast to the divisive officeholder.

Mere weeks after taking flak for an unannounced visit to India initially paid for by an undisclosed business, the IndyStar revealed that he was out of the country — again without sharing his travel plans and paid for by an outside organization.

Since the story broke, he has revealed that organizers with the Conservative Political Action Conference picked up the tab for his Hungary visit while pointedly posting about his “personal time” online. But he spoke on both international trips as Indiana’s Secretary of State, not in his personal capacity.

The website for the Office of the Secretary of State doesn’t include any mention of international relations, but is centered on election oversight, registering businesses and trademarks, and licensing vehicle dealerships.

Returning the office’s focus to those duties is part of the campaign platform for both Republican challengers who announced in recent weeks.

Knox County Clerk Dave Shelton ran against Morales in the 2022 convention but fell short in the final tally. He announced his bid with Indy Politics in April, days before Morales posted about his intention to run for reelection.

Shelton described the position itself as the destination, rather than a stepping stone for another office, adding that his early announcement is designed to give him time to meet with delegates.

Party candidates for the secretary of state are chosen by delegates at a convention, rather than through a primary process. The convention is scheduled for next summer, meaning that candidates can’t yet officially submit their names for consideration.

Jamie Reitenour outperformed a former attorney general in the Republican primary election for governor last year and now has her sights set on the office.

Questions about international trips sent to Morales’ campaign didn’t get a response before publication, but the politician has shot back at critics online and in a recent WOWO interview.

Traveling For Other, Political Purposes?

Unlike other state employees, the State Personnel Department has little oversight over elected officials. Elected officials don’t punch a time clock or have limits on personal or vacation time. And there are few restrictions or transparency about travel.

The latter could change following a new state law mandating that such officeholders report their travel expenses from trips “taken in an official capacity” and whether state funding was used. It’s unclear if this would capture Morales’ international trips, where he spoke as Indiana Secretary of State but wasn’t explicitly on state business.

Hungary is no longer considered a democracy to European Union officials, but the CPAC conference could be a jumping off point for other offices for Morales. His wife is also Honorary Consul of Hungary to Indiana.

Former statewide elected officials, speaking generally about office travel, told the Indiana Capital Chronicle they tried not to overlap personal vacations with official duties.

Critics have questioned if paying for Morales’ international trips would qualify as a campaign contribution. He recently revealed that he paid back the business that initially covered the excursion to India to protect them from “the crazy left,” as reported by State Affairs Indiana.

Morales is no stranger to criticism. The politician started his term by hiring his brother-in-law for a six-figure position — a loophole to the state’s nepotism law — and bought a $90,000 vehicle with taxpayer money. Additionally, he showered his team with spot bonuses and has been accused of using his office for self-promotion with his name in large font on yard signs, an election security guide and printed maps — the latter of which was criticized by a sitting senator.

Most recently, the office spent $100,000 for 5-second public service messages on digital billboards around the state, flashing messages about voting alongside directives to learn more about the office’s business and automotive dealership oversight.

The Challengers

Self-described election nerd Shelton spends much of his time tinkering with and thinking about the minutiae of administration, having won recognition from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for designing stabilizer brackets for e-pollbooks and improving accessibility for disabled voters.

But, when he just started out, he said he conferred with other clerks rather than getting assistance from the secretary of state’s office. Even today, “they don’t have that experience” in the office, he said.

Since his showing at the 2022 convention, Shelton said some delegates have expressed “extreme buyer’s remorse” to him.

For her part, Reitenour calls for a return to paper ballots, fortifying Indiana’s election oversight and more state leadership aligned with President Donald Trump.

She also vowed to hold weekly press conferences and emphasized the need for an officeholder who balances consumer and business interests, rather than someone who favors one party over the other.

Indianapolis Rep. Andrew Ireland has also been floated as a possible contender, though he declined to comment for this story.

Delegates also rejected the establishment candidate, Rep. Julie McGuire, in favor of Micah Beckwith in the nomination for lieutenant governor last summer, signaling continued support for unconventional candidates.