2023 Indianapolis mayoral election

An election for Mayor of Indianapolis was held on November 7, 2023. Primary elections were held on May 2. Incumbent Democratic mayor Joe Hogsett sought and won re-election to a third term in office.^[2] Hogsett and Republican Jefferson Shreve advanced to the general election.^[3] After the Mayoral election, Shreve was elected to the House of Representatives in the 2024 United States House of Representatives elections representing Indiana's 6th Congressional district. Shreve had the best performance of a Republican since Greg Ballard in 2011. Hogsett performed 12 points worse than he did in 2019.

2023 Indianapolis mayoral election

← 2019 November 7, 2023 2027 →
Turnout	26.51% 2.27 pp[1]
Candidate Joe Hogsett Jefferson Shreve Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 97,311 66,214 Percentage 59.5% 40.5%
Precinct results Hogsett:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      >90% Shreve:      50–60%      60–70%      70–80% Tie:      50%      No votes
Mayor before election Joe Hogsett Democratic Elected mayor Joe Hogsett Democratic

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Joe Hogsett, incumbent mayor^[4]

Eliminated in primary

• Bob Kern, retired paralegal and perennial candidate^[5]
• Robin Shackleford, Indiana state representative^[6]
• Larry Vaughn, community activist^[5]

Withdrawn

• Clif Marsiglio, educator^[7] (endorsed Shackleford)^[8]
• Gregory Meriweather, community engagement consultant^[9] (endorsed Shackleford)^[10]

Endorsements

Robin Shackleford

Individuals

• Jeffrey Johnson Sr, senior pastor of Eastern Star Church^[11]

Organizations

• Indiana Black Legislative Caucus PAC^[12]

Results

Democratic primary^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Joe Hogsett (incumbent)	28,273	58.4
	Democratic	Robin Shackleford	18,340	37.9
	Democratic	Bob Kern	693	1.4
	Democratic	Gregory Meriweather (withdrawn)	471	1.0
	Democratic	Clif Marsiglio (withdrawn)	365	0.8
	Democratic	Larry Vaughn	293	0.6
Total votes			48,435	100.0

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jefferson Shreve, former city councilor^[14]

Eliminated in primary

• John Couch, business owner^[15]
• James Jackson, pastor^[16]
• Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, political reporter^[17]

Declined

• Joe Elsener, chair of the Marion County Republican Party^[18]
• Steve Sorrel, businessman^[18]

Results

Republican primary^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jefferson Shreve	19,152	65.9
	Republican	Abdul-Hakim Shabazz	7,629	26.3
	Republican	James Jackson	1,250	4.3
	Republican	John Couch	1,036	3.6
Total votes			29,067	100.0

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size[a]	Margin of error	Joe Hogsett (D)	Jefferson Shreve (R)	Undecided
Indy Politics/Crossroads Public Affairs [19]	September 24–25, 2023	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	47%	37%	16%

Debates

Date	Time (ET)	Host	Moderator(s)	Ref
October 8, 2023	5:00 pm	African American Coalition of Indianapolis Indianapolis Recorder Radio One	Cameron Ridle Oseye Boyd	[20]
October 23, 2023	7:00 pm	WISH-TV	Phil Sanchez Katiera Winfrey	[21]
October 26, 2023	7:00 pm	CBS 4 FOX 59	Dan Spehler	[22]

Endorsements

Jefferson Shreve

Statewide officials

• Mitch Daniels, former Governor of Indiana (2005–2013)^[23]

Results

2023 Indianapolis mayoral election^[24]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Democratic	Joe Hogsett (Incumbent)	97,311	59.5
	Republican	Jefferson Shreve	66,214	40.5
Total votes			163,525	100.0

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear