(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales is pushing back against criticism from fellow Republicans as he fights to retain support ahead of next month's Indiana Republican Party convention.
Morales sent a text message to Republican convention delegates Tuesday accusing State Treasurer Daniel Elliott of making what he called a "blatantly false and politically motivated attack" against him and his office.
The dispute comes after Morales lost support from several prominent Republicans in his reelection campaign. U.S. Sen. Jim Banks and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita recently withdrew their endorsements and instead backed Max Engling, a senior adviser and regional director in Banks' Senate office who entered the race last week.
Elliott went further, calling for Morales to resign immediately.
Elliott's criticism centered on the hiring of Elina Kupce as the Secretary of State office's chief of staff. Questions were raised about whether Kupce had been improperly registered to vote as a noncitizen years before joining the office in 2023. According to reports, she never voted and the registration was canceled in 2013. Kupce left the Secretary of State's office on April 29.
Morales defended the hiring in his message to delegates. The Secretary of State's office also released a statement Tuesday saying Kupce had passed pre-employment checks through the State Personnel Department and was legally authorized to work for the office.
"Mr. Elliott either does not know hiring procedures of Indiana State Government or willfully took a cheap shot at me in a text someone wrote for him to score political points and tarnish our record of success for the people of Indiana and the integrity of our elections," Morales said in the message.
Morales is seeking the Republican nomination at the June 20 state convention. He previously won the party's nomination in 2022.
The race also includes Knox County Clerk David Shelton, conservative activist Jamie Reitenour and Engling, whose late entry has reshaped the contest.
Morales' campaign has also experienced staff turnover. Blair Englehart, whose firm had been working for the campaign, confirmed he resigned as campaign spokesman.
In his message to delegates, Morales claimed he was being targeted by "political insiders and power-brokers" because he supported President Donald Trump's unsuccessful effort last year to redraw Indiana's congressional districts. Morales linked Elliott to opposition to that proposal and reiterated his intention to remain in the race.
"This is nothing more than political retribution for me standing with our great President against those who fiercely opposed him," Morales said. "Let me say this loud and clear, I will always choose to do what's right for the people of Indiana and no political pressure or politically motivated attacks on me or my office will persuade me from doing what's right, not now, not ever."