7/15/26 - New IEDC drama, Indy's massive data center incentives, Ballard makes the ballot

Today’s episode of The Rob Kendall Show opens with Rob breaking down Greg Ballard officially turning in 41,299 verified signatures for his independent Secretary of State run. Rob says Ballard cleared the required 36,943-signature threshold by roughly 12%, which is an extraordinary accomplishment given how difficult Indiana makes ballot access for anyone outside the Republican and Democratic parties. He argues Ballard’s campaign cracked a code that has kept regular people and independent candidates locked out for decades. Rob says the real importance of Ballard’s run is not just whether he wins, but whether he gets the Lincoln Party to 10% and earns primary ballot access. He argues that 2% would give the party general election access, but 10% would be the true breakthrough because it would put Lincoln Party candidates on primary ballots and give them taxpayer-subsidized visibility. Rob says Ballard’s strongest message should be that he is running for voters themselves by creating a new path for people shut out by the two-party system. The discussion also critiques Ballard’s presentation at the Statehouse. Rob says the signature turn-in was professional and dignified, but missed a chance to become a larger media moment that could have grabbed statewide attention. He argues Ballard now needs sharper messaging focused on two themes: Republican corruption tied to Diego Morales and the idea that voting for Ballard is a vote to open the system for more Hoosiers. Another segment focuses on Chuck Goodrich being named Indiana Secretary of Commerce and head of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Rob says the appointment is troubling because Goodrich remains CEO of Gaylor Electric, a company that says data center construction has been a major part of its business growth. Rob argues it is an obvious conflict for someone whose company works on data centers to oversee incentives and economic development decisions that could involve data centers and major construction projects. Rob says the Goodrich appointment shows the IEDC has not been fixed, despite years of concern over corruption, insider dealing, and taxpayer-funded corporate incentives. He argues Governor Mike Braun spent public money auditing the IEDC and replacing its board, only to put someone with clear business overlap in charge of the same incentive system. Rob says lawmakers and media outlets should be demanding answers, because the situation reinforces the same culture that allowed figures like Diego Morales to operate without real accountability. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices