FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 13, 2026
Contact:
Elizabeth Bennion
President, Indiana Debate Commission
president@indianadebatecommission.com
All Four Candidates Confirm Participation; Hoosiers Invited to Submit Questions Before October 7 Debate
Debate at a Glance
What: Indiana Secretary of State Debate
When: Wednesday, October 7, 2026 from 7-8 PM ET
Where: Live from WFYI Public Television Studios in Indianapolis
How to Watch: Live on WFYI Public Television, streamed on WFYI’s YouTube channel, and streamed at www.indianadebatecommission.com. The debate feed will also be made available to media organizations across Indiana for broadcast, streaming, and embedding.
Moderator: Laura Merrifield Wilson, Professor of Political Science at the University of Indianapolis, host of Positively Politics on WICR, and member of the Indiana Debate Commission.
Ask a Question: Hoosiers may submit questions at www.indianadebatecommission.com/submit-a-question/ through September 25, 2026.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS:
All Four Candidates to Participate
The Indiana Debate Commission (IDC) will host a live debate featuring all four candidates for Indiana Secretary of State on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, in advance of the November general election.
All four candidates on the ballot have accepted the Commission’s invitation and will participate in the debate: Republican Max Engling, Democrat Beau Bayh, Libertarian Lauri Shillings, and Independent/Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard.
Voters Invited to Submit Questions
In keeping with its mission of “Putting Voters First,” the Commission invites Hoosier voters to submit questions through www.indianadebatecommission.com using the “Ask Your Question” link on the homepage.
Questions submitted by September 25 will be reviewed by members of the Commission.
Hoosiers whose questions are selected may also be invited to ask their questions via pre-recorded video during the debate. Consistent with Commission practice, candidates will not receive the questions in advance.
Why This Race Matters
The race for Indiana Secretary of State is one of the state’s most closely watched contests, featuring candidates from four different political parties. As Indiana’s chief elections officer, the Secretary of State oversees election administration, business services, securities regulation, and campaign finance reporting.
IDC President Encourages Voter Engagement
“The Indiana Debate Commission is committed to helping voters make informed decisions by providing opportunities to hear directly from the candidates,” said Elizabeth Bennion, President of the Indiana Debate Commission. “The Secretary of State plays a vital role in Indiana’s elections and civic life, and this four-candidate debate will give Hoosiers an opportunity to compare different perspectives on the future of the office. We are grateful to WFYI and media partners across the state for helping make this conversation accessible to voters wherever they live. We hope the debate sparks conversations in communities across Indiana and encourages Hoosiers to learn more about the candidates before casting their ballots.”
About the Indiana Debate Commission
Founded in 2007, the Indiana Debate Commission is a nonpartisan, statewide volunteer organization and the oldest independent, nonpartisan debate commission in the nation. Since 2008, the Commission has hosted debates for statewide offices, providing voters with direct access to candidates and their views on issues affecting Indiana.
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