2011 Indianapolis mayoral election explained
| Election Name: | 2011 Indianapolis mayoral election |
| Country: | Indianapolis |
| Type: | presidential |
| Ongoing: | no |
| Previous Election: | 2007 Indianapolis mayoral election |
| Previous Year: | 2007 |
| Next Election: | 2015 Indianapolis mayoral election |
| Next Year: | 2015 |
| Election Date: | November 8, 2011 |
| Nominee1: | Greg Ballard |
| Party1: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote1: | 92,499 |
| Percentage1: | 51.3% |
| Nominee2: | Melina Kennedy |
| Party2: | Democratic Party (United States) |
| Popular Vote2: | 84,968 |
| Percentage2: | 47.1% |
| Map Size: | 200px |
| Mayor |
| Before Election: | Greg Ballard |
| Before Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| After Election: | Greg Ballard |
| After Party: | Republican Party (United States) |
| Turnout: | 29.9% |
The Indianapolis mayoral election of 2011 took place on November 8, 2011. Voters elected the Mayor of Indianapolis, members of the Indianapolis City-County Council, as well as several other local officials. Incumbent Republican Greg Ballard was seeking a second term. Democrats nominated former deputy mayor Melina Kennedy to run against Ballard.[1] [2] Ballard defeated Kennedy 51% to 47%.[3]
The Indianapolis City-County elections took place alongside the mayoral election, with Democrats taking a 16–13 majority.[3] [4] This marked the first time in Indianapolis history that a Republican mayor would lead with a Democratic council.[5]
Candidates
Republican party
- Greg Ballard, incumbent mayor
Democratic party
- Melina Kennedy, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development
Defeated in the primary
- Sam Carson[6]
- Ron Gibson
- Brian Williams
Removed from ballot
Libertarian party
Campaign
Melina Kennedy was described as the "overwhelming favorite" to win the Democratic primary,[8] and succeeded in doing so.
The campaign was the most expensive in Indianapolis history, with the candidates raising a combined $6 million.[9] Representative André Carson, Sam Carson's nephew, endorsed Melina Kennedy.[10] Kennedy was also endorsed by The Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police.[11] [12]
Polling
| Poll source | Date(s)
administered | class=small | Sample
size | Margin of
error | Greg
Ballard (R) | Melina
Kennedy (D) | Other | Undecided |
|---|
| EPIC-MRA | October 29–31, 2011 | 400 | ± 4.9% | align=center | 44% | 33% | — | 23% | |
External links
Notes and References
- News: Dems, GOP slate their candidates for May 3 primary . The Indianapolis Star . February 12, 2011 . November 8, 2011.
- News: Slating conventions to take on just a few contested races . The Indianapolis Star . February 12, 2011 . November 8, 2011.
- Web site: 2011 General Election Results . Marion County Clerk's Office . November 9, 2011 . November 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20111110194133/http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Clerk/Election/Election_Info/Pages/CurrentElectionResults.aspx . November 10, 2011 . dead .
- News: Democrats take lead on City-County Council . The Indianapolis Star . November 9, 2011 . November 9, 2011.
- Web site: Mayor Ballard faces Democratic-controlled council . WTHR . November 9, 2011 . November 9, 2011.
- Web site: Carson To Enter Indianapolis Mayoral Race . WRTV . February 10, 2011 . November 8, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110717003829/http://www.theindychannel.com/news/26818386/detail.html . July 17, 2011 . dead .
- Howey . Brian A. . House walkout could impact mayoral races . Howey Politics Indiana . March 3, 2011 . 16 . 26 . September 15, 2019.
- Howey . Brian A. . First look at Indiana mayoral races . Howey Politics Indiana . February 24, 2011 . 16 . 25 . September 15, 2019.
- Web site: Expensive mayoral campaign winds down . WTHR . November 8, 2011 . November 8, 2011.
- Web site: Messy Family Stuff . onPolitix . February 14, 2011 . November 8, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120313124449/http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/35020/messy-family-stuff . March 13, 2012 . dead .
- News: Editorial Board endorsement: City needs Kennedy . The Indianapolis Star . October 30, 2011 . November 8, 2011.
- Web site: FOP endorses Kennedy for mayor . Indianapolis Recorder . September 8, 2011 . November 9, 2011.
