Trump Jr Slams Bayh After Indiana Poll Shows Democrat Ahead

The trump jr bayh indiana feud erupted Friday when Donald Trump Jr. took to X to attack Democrat Beau Bayh in what would normally be a sleepy down-ballot race. The post landed the same day a Bellwether Research/Free Press Indiana poll showed Bayh leading Republican Max Engling by 8 points in the race for Indiana secretary of state.

The Poll That Set It Off

The poll, conducted earlier this month among more than 800 likely voters, showed Bayh in front with just 11% undecided — the most decisive lead of the race, after previous internal polls had the candidates neck-and-neck. “Conservatives across the Hoosier State need to support @MaxForIndiana for Indiana Secretary of State,” Trump Jr. wrote of Engling. “His opponent is just another leftist radical cosplaying as a moderate. Don’t fall for it!!!!”

Bayh’s Moderate Pitch

Bayh has worked to frame himself as a moderate Democrat, running ads that highlight his background as a U.S. Marine and messaging about cleaning up corruption — an issue the poll identified as voters’ top priority. Indiana is a reliably conservative state, but Bayh’s narrow leads in past surveys have tended to evaporate on Election Day, when candidates have decisively lost despite polling close.

Why Indiana Matters

If Bayh wins, it would hand Democrats their first statewide office victory in Indiana since 2012. National polls are indicating Democrats could receive a significant bump in the November general election, making even long-shot down-ballot contests worth watching. Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard and Libertarian Lauri Shillings are also in the race.

Source: The Indianapolis Star