Knox County Clerk, and candidate for Indiana Secretary of State David Shelton is responding after two Republican leaders withdrew their support for Indiana Secretary of State Diego Morales in the race for the Republican nomination for secretary of state.

U.S. Senator Jim Banks and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita announced Thursday they are no longer backing Morales and are instead supporting Max Engling, a senior adviser and regional director in Banks’ Senate office.  Engling recently entered the race.

In a statement, Shelton said he had warned Republican delegates and party leaders for months that controversies surrounding Morales could hurt the party’s ability to hold the office in November.

Shelton said the secretary of state’s office should not be consumed by what he described as distractions and political damage control. He also said delegates should choose a nominee focused on the responsibilities of the office.

Shelton pointed to his background in election administration, fraud investigations, and small business ownership. He said he is the only candidate in the race with direct election administration experience and said he has spent months traveling the state meeting with delegates, local Republican leaders, and county election officials.

Morales responded Thursday by saying convention delegates — not party insiders — should decide the Republican nominee. He also said he remains confident he will be renominated at the June 20 Republican convention.

Candidates certified for the Republican convention race for secretary of state include Morales, Engling, Shelton, and conservative activist Jamie Reitenour.