KNOX COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Knox County Clerk, David Shelton has officially announced that he is seeking the Republican nomination for Indiana State of Secretary in 2026.
Shelton has served as the Knox County Clerk since 2019, and as a chairman on the Knox County GOP since 2022. Now, he is seeking the Republican nomination at the Indiana Republican State Convention come June 2026.
The State of Secretary serves as the top election administrator in the state of Indiana. Shelton hopes his leadership in election modernization, cybersecurity, and experience in public-service will help propel his campaign.
“I’m a public servant at heart, I really am. I enjoy helping people,” said David Shelton. “I understand our election processes. I get calls all the time from the public and from other clerks and I’m more than willing to help them and help inform them what’s going on.”
Shelton has been recognized both statewide and nationally. He was named Indiana Clerk of the Year by his peers in 2022. Also, Shelton was recognized as Knox County was honored by the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for outstanding innovations in election cybersecurity and technology.
According to his press release, Shelton first ran for Secretary of State in 2022, launching his campaign just three months before the Indiana Republican State Convention. Despite the late start, he quickly gained momentum, earning public endorsements from 63 Republican County clerks and capturing 18% of the vote on the first ballot in a competitive four-way race. Although Diego Morales secured the nomination on the second ballot, Shelton’s strong showing established him as a respected voice for principled, professional election leadership.
“I don’t think there’s such a thing as an election expert. I’m a student of elections and you know, just like with many things in life, you don’t have to know everything, you just have to know where to go to get the right answers. And I know where to go.,” stated Shelton.
Looking forward, nominees for the Indiana Secretary of State will be nominated during the Indiana Republican State Convention next year.
