South Bend, Indiana sample ballot 2026

A South Bend native who graduated from LaSalle High School in 1993, holds a journalism degree from Indiana University Bloomington and a law degree from IU Indianapolis, per Campaign site. Has worked in the St. Joseph County Prosecutor's Office since 2003, rising from intern to Chief Deputy Prosecutor and Chief of Staff in 2022, including four years embedded with the county's Drug Investigation Unit, per Campaign site.

Scott Ruszkowski currently serves as South Bend Police Chief, a position he has held for 11 years after joining the South Bend Police Department in 1988 and advancing through patrol, K9, SWAT, and Street Crimes units, per the campaign site. He is a U.S. Navy veteran and an FBI National Academy honors graduate, per the campaign site.

Max Engling is the Republican candidate for Indiana Secretary of State. He has worked on the U.S. House Administration Committee, in agricultural education with Beck's Hybrids, and most recently in U.S. Senator Jim Banks' office, per his campaign site. He holds a bachelor's degree from IUPUI and a master's degree in National Defense and Strategic Planning from the U.S. Naval War College.

Beau Bayh is the Democratic candidate for Indiana secretary of state and an attorney, per his campaign site. His campaign emphasizes election administration, public trust and business services.

Shillings is the Libertarian nominee for Indiana Secretary of State and a Creative Director at the University of Indianapolis and small business owner since 2000, per the campaign site. Shillings chairs the Hamilton County Libertarian Party, serves on the Libertarian Party of Indiana State Central Committee, and holds a degree in Community and Nonprofit Leadership, per the campaign site.

Greg Ballard is the Lincoln Party candidate for Indiana secretary of state on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list; election officials confirmed in July that his petition cleared the signature requirement, per the Indiana Capital Chronicle. A Marine veteran and former mayor of Indianapolis, he says he wants to open up the state's election system, per WNDU.

Elise Nieshalla is Indiana's sitting state comptroller, appointed in November 2023, per the office's official site (in.gov/comptroller), and the Republican candidate for a full term on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. The office oversees state financial reporting, the Hoosier START retirement plan and the Indiana Transparency Portal, per WISH-TV. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Jessica Bailey is the Democratic candidate for Indiana Comptroller. She has served two terms as Porter County Clerk since 2018, managing payroll, public records and elections, and was named Clerk of the Year by the Association of Indiana Counties and received an election administration award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, per her campaign site.

Daniel Elliott is Indiana's sitting state treasurer, per the office's official site (in.gov/tos), and the Republican candidate for re-election on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 general election candidate list. The treasurer manages state investments, cash, college savings, unclaimed property and public-finance services, per the office's site.

Coumba Kebe is the Democratic candidate for Indiana State Treasurer. She has spent nearly a decade in healthcare administration and business operations, managing multi-million-dollar budgets, and holds a bachelor's degree in Community Health and Preventive Medicine and a Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management from Indiana University, per her campaign site.