2011_Indianapolis_mayoral_election Knowpia

2011 Indianapolis mayoral election
Turnout	29.9%
	Precinct results; Ballard: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; Kennedy: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90%; No votes
Mayor before election; Greg Ballard; Republican	Elected Mayor ; Greg Ballard; Republican

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 edit

Republican party edit

Greg Ballard, incumbent mayor

Democratic party edit

Melina Kennedy, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development

Defeated in the primary edit

Sam Carson^[6]
Ron Gibson
Brian Williams

Removed from ballot edit

Bob Kern^[7]^[8]

Libertarian party edit

Chris Bowen

Campaign edit

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 edit

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Greg Ballard (R)	Melina Kennedy (D)	Other	Undecided
EPIC-MRA	October 29–31, 2011	400	± 4.9%	44%	33%	—	23%

Election results edit

Indianapolis mayoral election, 2011^[3]
Party		Candidate	Votes	%	±%
	Republican	Greg Ballard (incumbent)	92,499	51.3%	+0.9%
	Democratic	Melina Kennedy	84,968	47.1%	-0.1%
	Libertarian	Christopher Bowen	2,676	1.5	-0.8
	No party	Write-Ins	124	0.1	—
Turnout			181,168	29.9	+3.7
Majority			7,531	4.2
	Republican hold		Swing

Preceded by 2007	Indianapolis mayoral election 2011	Succeeded by 2015

References edit

^ "Dems, GOP slate their candidates for May 3 primary". The Indianapolis Star. February 12, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ "Slating conventions to take on just a few contested races". The Indianapolis Star. February 12, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ ^a ^b ^c "2011 General Election Results". Marion County Clerk's Office. November 9, 2011. Archived from the original on November 10, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
^ "Democrats take lead on City-County Council". The Indianapolis Star. November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
^ "Mayor Ballard faces Democratic-controlled council". WTHR. November 9, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.
^ "Carson To Enter Indianapolis Mayoral Race". WRTV. February 10, 2011. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ Howey, Brian A. (March 3, 2011). "House walkout could impact mayoral races" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. 16 (26). Retrieved September 15, 2019.
^ ^a ^b Howey, Brian A. (February 24, 2011). "First look at Indiana mayoral races" (PDF). Howey Politics Indiana. 16 (25). Retrieved September 15, 2019.
^ "Expensive mayoral campaign winds down". WTHR. November 8, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ "Messy Family Stuff". onPolitix. February 14, 2011. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ "Editorial Board endorsement: City needs Kennedy". The Indianapolis Star. October 30, 2011. Retrieved November 8, 2011.
^ "FOP endorses Kennedy for mayor". Indianapolis Recorder. September 8, 2011. Retrieved November 9, 2011.