INDIANAPOLIS (WLKI) - Indiana's law prohibiting transgender girls from participating on girls school sports teams has become an issue in the secretary of state race, despite the office having no authority over school athletics.
The debate involves Republican nominee Max Engling, Lincoln Party candidate Greg Ballard and Democratic candidate Beau Bayh.
According to the Indiana Capital Chronicle, Engling's campaign criticized Ballard after the former Indianapolis mayor described the 2022 law as unnecessary.
Ballard supported then-Gov. Eric Holcomb's veto of the legislation in 2022. At the time, Ballard agreed with Holcomb's position that the Indiana High School Athletic Association already had policies for addressing transgender participation in school sports.
During a recent WIBC interview, Ballard stood by that position. He argued that allowing athletic organizations to handle participation rules was consistent with a limited-government approach.
The Republican-controlled Indiana General Assembly enacted the law in 2022 by overriding Holcomb's veto. A federal lawsuit challenging the law was dismissed in early 2023.
Engling's supporters highlighted Ballard's comments on social media. Engling later said he believes the law is necessary to preserve girls and women's athletic opportunities.
Engling characterized the question as straightforward and said transgender girls should not participate on girls sports teams.
Ballard responded that boys do not belong in girls sports or locker rooms but maintained that the political debate was distracting from issues under the authority of the secretary of state.
He also described the dispute as a political "purity test" and said his campaign is focused on voters who are dissatisfied with the two major parties.
Bayh said he supports Indiana's existing law and considers the issue settled because the state has already prohibited transgender girls from participating in girls school sports.
The Democratic candidate also said transgender people should be protected from discrimination in areas including employment, housing and voting.
Bayh criticized the campaign's focus on cultural issues that do not relate to the secretary of state's responsibilities.
The secretary of state oversees Indiana elections, business filings, automobile dealership regulations and the state's securities division. The office does not set policies for school athletic programs.
The dispute comes as the Republican and Democratic campaigns consider how Ballard's third-party candidacy could affect the general election.
Ballard, a former Republican who served two terms as Indianapolis mayor, is seeking support from independent voters and people dissatisfied with the Republican and Democratic parties.
The secretary of state contest will appear at the top of Indiana's general election ballot in November.