As Indiana GOP delegates prepare to choose their nominee for Secretary of State, Independent candidate and former Indy Mayor Greg Ballard said he believes he will get the roughly 40,000 petition signatures necessary to appear on the ballot. fox59.com/news/politics/this…

I want to welcome Beau Bayh officially into the race. From his recent public statements, it’s clear he agrees with me that Hoosiers need an independent leader in the Secretary of State’s office overseeing our elections. Unfortunately for him, there’s more to being an independent than just pretending not to be a Democrat. He’s still beholden to the party insiders who just gave him the Democratic nomination. Now that he’s officially the Democratic Party’s nominee, we look forward to Beau bravely using the word ‘Democrat’ on his website and in the bio of his social media accounts, where it has yet to appear.

This is what competitive elections do: create accountability where there hasn't been any before.  Our presence has already changed the trajectory of this race. Both parties are now adjusting because of the Ballard campaign. The same Republicans who just months ago proudly endorsed Diego Morales have suddenly determined he’s not fit to be their party's nominee. His issues were not a secret, but party insiders have been more concerned about protecting the Indiana GOP than the good people of this state. Sadly, that has not changed. On the Democratic side, Beau Bayh acknowledged in an interview released today that “[Secretary of State] really should be a nonpartisan role” and that “one of the biggest problems in our politics... is the strident partisanship that we've seen kind of grip our politics.” He also said, “We are trying to... have an independent voice in our Statehouse.” If he keeps talking like that, he might start getting mistaken for a slightly more handsome version of me. I’m proud that my campaign is already changing the conversation and creating the accountability Hoosiers so desperately need. Our team is more energized than ever.

My team just told me we are now up to 61.

There’s been a lot of talk about the number of signatures I need to get on the ballot this November: 36,943. Most Hoosiers have no idea how that compares to what it takes to run statewide as an independent in surrounding or similar states. It’s pretty interesting. In all but one state, the 20K we’ve already collected would put us on the ballot comfortably. SURROUNDING STATES Indiana (pop. 6.9M) 36,943 Illinois (pop. 12.7M) 25,000 Michigan (pop. 10.1M) 12,000 Ohio (pop. 11.9M) 5,000 Kentucky (pop. 5.6M) 5,000 SIMILAR STATES Arizona (pop. 7.6M) 11,247 Tennessee (pop. 7.2M) Just 25! Massachusetts (pop. 7.1M) 10,000 Indiana (pop. 6.9M) 36,943 Maryland (pop. 6.3M) 10,000

Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard needs about 37,000 verified signatures from registered voters to qualify for the ballot as an independent candidate. DETAILS: 🔗 tinyurl.com/yc5ez25t

I’m pleased to announce that my campaign has already collected 20,014 signatures to get me on the ballot, a number that is growing every day. The response from people across the state asking to help with that effort has been so great that we’re launching a new initiative today to make it easier for them to do so. You can learn more at ballardontheballot.com.

I am thrilled to announce that my campaign has raised nearly $290,000 in its first six weeks from donors across the political spectrum. I have been moved by the support I have received, and by the diversity of those who have given it. The fact that we have raised well over a quarter million dollars in only six weeks tells me that voters are hungry for a rational, practical candidate who is eager to serve.

Earlier this week, former Governor Mitch Daniels was asked by @FOX59 if Indiana was ready for an independent candidate like former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard @GregforIndiana, who is running for Secretary of State. His answer: “[They] might be.”

From this story: [Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels] said Hoosier voters, tired of strident partisan politics, may be ready to embrace the potential third-party candidacy of former Indianapolis mayor Greg Ballard, who is running for Secretary of State as an independent. “Greg is well known, very admirable fella, and I think part of his rationale for making this step and part of his opportunity is the incumbent has a lot of scandal,” said Daniels, reflecting on the track record of Republican Diego Morales. “It’s clear that the way we’re selecting candidates these days in which the most devoted partisans of each party generally pick the nominees in primaries has clearly led to a number of situations where people say, ‘Are those my choices?’, more and more people indicating when asked that they consider themselves an independent I think there is some opportunity there.” fox59.com/news/daniels-sound…

“Recent elections suggest something important: When credible independent candidates run, voters respond. Over the past two election cycles, 244 independent candidates ran for partisan offices in Indiana — and 52% won, including contests once assumed to belong to a major party. “Indiana voters might soon see that dynamic play out in a major statewide race. Former Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard’s decision to run for secretary of state as an independent illustrates how this shift could unfold. His candidacy introduces a competitive statewide race that invites voters across the political spectrum.” ibj.com/articles/amar-patel-…

I’m grateful to the East Chicago NAACP and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority for having me speak at their voter forum in the Region earlier this week. All Secretary of State candidates were invited. One independent and two Democrats participated. Unfortunately, no Republicans running for that office attended.

Ballard told WANE 15 on Monday he would remain in the race no matter who emerged from the GOP and Democratic conventions, where both frontrunners face opposition. wane.com/news/your-local-ele…

I enjoyed being on Rob’s show.

I am running for Secretary of State as an independent. But under Indiana law, the only way for my candidacy to unlock ballot access for other good people in the future – without them needing to collect thousands of signatures – is by listing a party name on the petition forms we are using to gather those signatures. That party does not exist right now. It will only be established if our campaign reaches the legal threshold for party status in the November election. Indiana ballots have included independent candidates accompanied by a party name before. As recently as 2024, a presidential candidate appeared on our ballots this way. Since Abraham Lincoln spent his boyhood in Indiana – where he learned the values of integrity, humility, and unity – we thought “Lincoln Party” was a fitting name for this effort.

Many people have asked me about my decision to run for Indiana Secretary of State. This is why I’m doing it: indystar.com/story/opinion/2…

Indy Star: “[Indiana Republican Party state chair Lana] Keesling’s reaction to Ballard's entrance to the race focused exclusively on the residency issue, claiming that Ballard ‘spent the past several years living on the East Coast.’ But this is false.” I’ve been back home in Indiana since 2023, which they could’ve easily discovered in two minutes of Googling before putting out that statement. It’s sad that the Indiana Republican Party has come to this. Another reason why I’m running. indystar.com/story/news/poli…

This is a spectacular column . . .

This kind of nonsense is exactly why I’m running. We moved back to Indiana in March of 2023 and registered to vote soon thereafter, like any good citizen would.