Erin Houchin’s $3,000 Tax Cut Claim Faces Scrutiny as Hoosiers See Little Real Relief

Those of us who’ve been paying attention have known about this for a while—really, for years. But now the Diego Morales people have decided to put it out there. David Shelton, his Republican opponent at the state convention in June and the Knox County clerk, was on the show earlier this week—I think Monday. The big “gotcha” they’re pushing is that Shelton’s wife owned a law-abiding business where she sold sex toys. She’s owned it for years, going back about a decade and a half.

Why the Shelton Family Business Is Becoming a Political Flashpoint

If you’ve got young kids around, I’ll keep this as clean as possible. Since December 2013, she’s run what’s essentially a mobile business. It’s like those Tupperware or Mary Kay-style parties people host—except instead of those products, she sells sex toys. It’s a registered business, they pay their taxes, and nothing about it violates state or federal law. It’s not hidden either. They’ve filed the paperwork and never denied it exists. I’ve known about it for years. But yesterday, for whatever reason, the Morales camp started pushing this story like it’s some major scandal, acting as though this woman committed a crime simply because she makes part of her living this way. So the question is twofold. Should a candidate be held accountable for what their spouse does, assuming it’s not illegal? And more broadly, should they be held accountable for anything their spouse does, regardless of legality? Second, if someone owns a legal business—files the paperwork, pays taxes, operates within the law—does that become disqualifying for public office? And if it does, what does that say about the state for allowing that business to exist in the first place?

Should Candidates Be Held Responsible for a Spouse’s Legal Business Activities?

Take a random example. Say she owned a toenail clipper business. Toenail clippers are legal in Indiana. People use them. The state allows it. Would anyone care? Would there be outrage? Of course not. So what’s the difference here? It’s 2026. People use sex toys. It’s a common product used by law-abiding adults across Indiana and the country. By all accounts, she’s not marketing to minors. It’s consenting adults purchasing legal products. If this were something illegal, that would be different. If Shelton’s wife were running a marijuana-growing operation in Indiana, where it’s still not legal, then you’d have a real issue. That would be a legitimate story involving a candidate tied to illegal activity. But that’s not what’s happening. She runs a legal business, going to homes or events and selling a legal product. Out of roughly 7 million people in Indiana, with maybe 4 million adults, it’s reasonable to assume a significant number have used a product like this at some point. That’s just reality. So again, should Shelton be held accountable for this? And if so, to what extent? Are we really going to punish someone because their spouse owns a lawful business?

Morales Controversies Shift Focus as Campaign Attacks Intensify

It’s interesting, because Diego Morales has a long list of actual issues tied to his conduct in office. His supporters don’t have much of a defense there. The controversies—his behavior, the India trip, the lack of transparency about who paid for it, the budget hearing where he struggled under questioning—those are all real concerns. Full disclosure, this isn’t about supporting David Shelton. I’m not a delegate, and I’m not committed to voting for him. I’d give him the opportunity to earn that vote depending on the general election field. I do think he’s qualified and has done a solid job as Knox County clerk, but that doesn’t mean he automatically has my vote. At the same time, anyone who wants a functional system should at least question Morales’ record. There’s no clear defense for the trip, the refusal to provide proof of payment, or the broader pattern of behavior in office. There are also concerns about spending, hiring practices, and contracts awarded to associates. His supporters know this. They know defending the record is difficult. So instead, the focus shifts to Shelton’s wife and her business. And that’s the contrast. On one side, you have documented issues tied to public office. On the other, a legal business that’s been openly operating for years. That’s the situation as it stands.