1925 Indianapolis mayoral election explained

Election Name:Indianapolis mayoral election, 1925
Country:Indianapolis
Type:presidential
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:1921 Indianapolis mayoral election
Previous Year:1921
Next Election:1929 Indianapolis mayoral election
Next Year:1929
Election Date:November 3, 1925
Image1:John L. Duvall (1) (a).jpg
Nominee1:John L. Duvall
Party1:Republican Party (United States)
Percentage1:55%
Nominee2:Walter Meyers
Party2:Democratic Party (United States)
Percentage2:45%
Turnout:63.9%
Map Size:200px
Mayor
Before Election:Samuel L. Shank
Before Party:Republican Party (United States)
After Election:John L. Duvall
After Party:Republican Party (United States)

The 1925 Indianapolis mayoral election was held on November 3, 1925 and saw the election of Republican former Marion County treasurer John L. Duvall, who defeated Democratic former Indianapolis city attorney Walter Meyers.[1] [2]

The 1925 municipal elections were notable for the presence of the Ku Klux Klan.[1] John L. Duvall was a member of the Klan.[1] However, contemporarily, the election was considered to one of the most tame municipal elections in then-recent memory.[1]

Nominations

Walter Meyers defeated A.G. Emhardt for the Democratic nomination.[1]

Duvall, a Klansman, defeated anti-Klan candidate Ralph Lemcke for the Republican nomination.[1] [2]

Results

Duvall won roughly 52,000 votes to Myers' roughly 43,000 votes.[1]

Duvall carried every ward except the city's 12th and 13th wards.[1] Despite his being a Klansman, Duvall's victory was, in part, due to his carrying the predominantly African American 5th and 6th wards.[1] Duvall, despite winning, underperformed in many wards compared to down-ticket Republicans.[1]

Voter turnout was considered to be low, with only 95,872 out of an estimated 150,000 registered voters participating in the municipal election.[1]

In the coinciding city council elections, which were voted at-large, six out of nine city council members elected were also pro-Klan Republicans.[1] Additionally, the Klan-backed "United Protestant" slate won in the city's coinciding school board elections.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Book: David J.. Bodenhamer. Robert G.. Barrows. The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Indiana University Press. 1994. 0-253-31222-1. 557.
  2. Web site: Stone . Andrew E. . Wicked Indianapolis . Arcadia Publishing . 85 . 28 June 2011.