Birch Evans "Evan" Bayh III (/ˈbaɪ/ BY; born December 26, 1955) is an American lawyer and Democratic politician who served as the junior U.S. Senator from Indiana from 1999 to 2011. He earlier served as the 46th Governor of Indiana from 1989 to 1997.Bayh first held public office as the Secretary of State of Indiana, elected in 1986. He held the position for only two years before being elected Governor.