Colwell: If one Hoosier Dem could win statewide, it's Destiny
“You’re fired!”
The voice is Donald Trump’s. It’s used in Democratic TV ads, seeking voter attention in what looms as Indiana’s most significant statewide race. And it’s a contest for an office seldom capturing much voter attention: secretary of state.
The ads contrast qualifications of Destiny Wells, the Democratic nominee, with the record of Diego Morales, her Republican opponent, who is described as “fired twice from the office he’s now running to lead.”
Thus the “You’re fired!” theme. Morales was terminated once after being cited for poor performance and quit a second time after receiving another improvement plan criticizing his “poor execution of required daily tasks.” The departures were in two different Republican-run secretary of state offices.
Morales has a lot more baggage.
He is deceptive about his military service after boasting about being a veteran. He was in the Indiana National Guard but has declined to answer questions of why he left the Guard before meeting his obligation for service in 2015.
Column:Briggs: Diego Morales' defense of his military record is a disaster
Destiny Wells served in the Army, with a tour of duty in Afghanistan, and is a military intelligence lieutenant colonel with the Army Reserves. She is a former deputy attorney general and was associate counsel for Indianapolis. Opponent research hasn’t turned up any “You’re Fired!” moments for her.
For Diego Morales, there also are allegations by two women of past sexual misconduct. He denies it. They say party leaders brushed aside their stories.
More:Diego Morales is surrounded by controversy. Democrats hope to capitalize on it.
Questions have been raised about his purchase of a $44,000 campaign car with political contributions.
There also is a contrast in views on conducting elections, a responsibility of the secretary of state.
After winning nomination at the Indiana Republican Convention, Morales called for cutting early voting days in half. He since has backtracked on that and on his 2020 election denial contentions. Wells calls for expanding voting opportunities with longer voting hours and building voter confidence in a state with low voter turnout.
In winning the nomination, Morales defeated Republican incumbent Holli Sullivan, an appointee of Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb. Morales suggested lax voting security in Indiana and accused the governor of “abusing his power” during the pandemic.
So, he wasn’t a Republican organization favorite. But convention delegates liked his Trump-like talk of election denial and admired his campaign travels throughout the state. He was a regular at Lincoln Day Dinners.
Also, he was an aide to Gov. Mike Pence. Not a “senior advisor,” as he once claimed, but indeed a lower-level aide.
With the contrasting qualifications, who wins?
Is it Destiny?
Or is it destiny that she loses, no matter the qualifications, in what has become a one-party Republican state?
No Democrat has won any office in statewide voting in Indiana in since 2012. It’s been over three decades since a Democrat won for secretary of state.
Will Republican voters, a big majority in Indiana, vote solidly for the GOP state ticket, including Morales, no matter what? Quite possibly.
That happens in one-party states. Neighboring Illinois is an example. There it’s the Democratic tickets sweeping to victory, with some of the Democratic winners then proving their incompetence.
In one-party states, a trash can will win if on the majority party’s ticket. Doesn’t matter if it’s an empty can or one full of trash.
Why does the secretary of state race loom as the most significant statewide contest? Because it appears to be the only contest in play. While the U.S. Senate race may be closer than expected, defeat of Sen. Todd Young would be the most surprising upset in the nation, particularly if there is a red wave.
Democrats for state auditor and treasurer have no chance. Indiana voters won’t elect an entire Democratic state-office ticket.
If one Democrat could win statewide, it’s Destiny Wells. Or is she destined to lose, no matter what, in a one-party state?
Jack Colwell is a columnist for The Tribune. Write to him in care of The Tribune or by email at jcolwell@comcast.net.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Can Democrat Destiny Wells win in Indiana, a one-party GOP state?
