2019 Indianapolis mayoral election

2019 Indianapolis mayoral election

November 5, 2019
Turnout	24.24% 1.56pp[1]
Nominee Joe Hogsett Jim Merritt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 109,084 40,903 Percentage 71.60% 26.85%
Precinct results Hogsett:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Merritt:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70% Tie:      40–50%      No votes
Mayor before election Joe Hogsett Democratic Elected mayor Joe Hogsett Democratic

An election for Mayor of Indianapolis was held on November 5, 2019. Joe Hogsett, the incumbent mayor, sought and won reelection for a second term in office.^[2]

Nominations

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Denise Paul Hatch
• Joe Hogsett, incumbent Mayor of Indianapolis^[3][4][5]

Results

Democratic primary results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Hogsett (incumbent)	29,111	83.83%
	Democratic	Denise Paul Hatch	5,615	16.17%
Total votes			34,726

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Jim Merritt, chair of the Marion County Republican Party and State Senator^[7]
• Christopher James Moore, dump truck driver^[3][8]
• Felipe Rios

Withdrawn candidates

• Jose Evans, former member of Indianapolis City-County Council and former Democrat^{[9][3][10][11]}
• John Schmitz, real estate developer^[12]

Potential candidates that did not run

• Greg Ballard, former mayor of Indianapolis^[11]
• Jeff Cardwell, former chair of the Indiana Republican Party and former member of Indianapolis City-County Council^[13]
• Ted Feeney, former president of Butler-Tarkington Neighborhood Association^[14]
• Cindy Kirchhofer, state representative^[3]
• Jamal Smith, executive director of the Indiana Civil Rights Commission^[3][11]

Results

Republican primary results^[6]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	James W. Merritt Jr.	14,910	82.75%
	Republican	Christopher James Moore	2,622	14.55%
	Republican	Felipe Rios	486	2.70%
Total votes			18,018

Libertarian candidates

• Douglas McNaughton ^[15]

Independent candidates

• John Schmitz, masonry contractor^[16] (failed to make ballot)^[17]

General election

’

Indianapolis mayoral election, 2019^[18]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joseph H. Hogsett (Incumbent)	109,084	71.60	+9.59%
	Republican	James W. Merritt Jr.	40,903	26.85	−11.00%
	Libertarian	Douglas John "Mac" McNaughton	2,353	1.54
	No party	Write-Ins	10	0.01	—
Turnout			152,350	23.98
Majority			68,181	44.75%
	Democratic hold		Swing

References

1. "indy.gov". www.indy.gov. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
2. "Marion County Election Results for November 5, 2019". The Indianapolis Star. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
3. Briggs, James (September 24, 2018). "Here are 5 Republicans who might challenge Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett in 2019". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
4. Milz, Mary (November 8, 2018). "Hogsett's decision on re-election run coming - just not today". WTHR. Retrieved November 24, 2018.
5. Briggs, James (December 7, 2018). "Mayor Joe Hogsett wants a second term. Will anyone try to stop him?". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
6. "Official Results". Indianapolis government. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
7. "Indianapolis mayor race: Jim Merritt enters, taking on Joe Hogsett". Indystar.com. January 10, 2019. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
8. "Dump truck driver announces candidacy in Indianapolis mayoral race". Fox59. August 16, 2018. Retrieved October 10, 2018.
9. "Former city-council member Jose Evans to run for Indianapolis mayor". Indystar.com. December 20, 2018. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
10. "Joe Hogsett wants you to forget he's a Democrat". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
11. "Pulliam: A competitive mayoral race would be good for Indy". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
12. "Developer John Schmitz to run for Indianapolis mayor". WTHR. December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
13. "Pulliam: Will Troy Riggs challenge Hogsett?". Indianapolis Star. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
14. "2019 mayoral, council races taking shape". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
15. "Conversations With The Indianapolis Mayoral Candidates". WFYI. October 18, 2019.
16. McQuad, Russ (July 1, 2019). "Independent for mayor chases petition deadline". WTTV. Retrieved July 28, 2019.
17. McKinney, Matt (July 30, 2019). "Independent mayoral candidate's campaign appears over after election board rejects signature appeal". The Indy Channel. WRTV. Retrieved August 2, 2019.
18. "Election Results". www.indy.gov. Indianapolis. Retrieved April 30, 2020.