2011 Indianapolis mayoral election
{{Short description|none}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox election
| 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
| image1 = File:GregBallard (1).jpg
| image_size = 150x150px
| nominee1 = Greg Ballard
| party1 = Republican Party (United States)
| popular_vote1 = 92,499
| percentage1 = 51.3%
| image2 = 3x4.svg
| nominee2 = Melina Kennedy
| party2 = Democratic Party (United States)
| popular_vote2 = 84,968
| percentage2 = 47.1%
| map_image = Indianapolis Mayor 2011.svg
| map_size = 200px
| map_caption = Precinct results
Ballard: {{legend0|#FFB2B2|40–50%}} {{legend0|#E27F7F|50–60%}} {{legend0|#d75d5d|60–70%}} {{legend0|#D72F30|70–80%}} {{legend0|#C21B18|80–90%}} {{legend0|#A80000|>90%}}
Kennedy: {{legend0|#A5B0FF|40–50%}} {{legend0|#7996e2|50–60%}} {{legend0|#6674de|60–70%}} {{legend0|#584cde|70–80%}} {{legend0|#3933e5|80–90%}} {{legend0|#0D0596|>90%}}
{{legend0|#808080|No votes}}
| title = Mayor
| before_election = Greg Ballard
| before_party = Republican Party (United States)
| after_election = Greg Ballard
| after_party = Republican Party (United States)
| turnout = 29.98% {{increase}} 3.66pp{{Cite web |title=indy.gov |url=https://www.indy.gov/activity/marion-county-voter-turnout |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=www.indy.gov |language=en}}
}}
{{ElectionsIN}}
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.{{cite news | url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20110212/NEWS/110212006/Dems-GOP-slate-their-candidates-May-3-primary | title = Dems, GOP slate their candidates for May 3 primary | newspaper = The Indianapolis Star | date = February 12, 2011 | access-date = November 8, 2011}}{{cite news | url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20110212/LOCAL18/102120349/Slating-conventions-take-just-few-races | title = Slating conventions to take on just a few contested races | newspaper = The Indianapolis Star | date = February 12, 2011 | access-date = November 8, 2011}} Ballard defeated Kennedy 51% to 47%.{{cite web | url = http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Clerk/Election/Election_Info/Pages/CurrentElectionResults.aspx | title = 2011 General Election Results | publisher = Marion County Clerk's Office | date = November 9, 2011 | access-date = November 9, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111110194133/http://www.indy.gov/eGov/County/Clerk/Election/Election_Info/Pages/CurrentElectionResults.aspx | archive-date = November 10, 2011 | url-status = dead }}
The Indianapolis City-County elections took place alongside the mayoral election, with Democrats taking a 16–13 majority.{{cite news | url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20111109/NEWS0502/111090333/Democrats-take-lead-City-County-Council | title = Democrats take lead on City-County Council | newspaper = The Indianapolis Star | date = November 9, 2011 | access-date = November 9, 2011}} This marked the first time in Indianapolis history that a Republican mayor would lead with a Democratic council.{{cite web | url=http://www.wthr.com/story/15994573/greg-ballard-wins-re-election-but | title = Mayor Ballard faces Democratic-controlled council | publisher = WTHR | date = November 9, 2011 | access-date = November 9, 2011}}
Candidates
=Republican party=
- Greg Ballard, incumbent mayor
=Democratic party=
- Melina Kennedy, former Deputy Mayor for Economic Development
==Defeated in the primary==
==Removed from ballot==
- Bob Kern{{cite journal |last1=Howey |first1=Brian A. |title=House walkout could impact mayoral races |journal=Howey Politics Indiana |date=March 3, 2011 |volume=16 |issue=26 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPI110303.pdf |access-date=September 15, 2019}}{{cite journal |last1=Howey |first1=Brian A. |title=First look at Indiana mayoral races |journal=Howey Politics Indiana |date=February 24, 2011 |volume=16 |issue=25 |url=https://www.in.gov/library/files/HPI110224.pdf |access-date=September 15, 2019}}
=Libertarian party=
- Chris Bowen
Campaign
Melina Kennedy was described as the "overwhelming favorite" to win the Democratic primary, and succeeded in doing so.
The campaign was the most expensive in Indianapolis history, with the candidates raising a combined $6 million.{{cite web | url=http://www.wthr.com/story/15990772/expensive-mayoral-campaign-winds-down | title = Expensive mayoral campaign winds down | publisher = WTHR | date = November 8, 2011 | access-date = November 8, 2011}} Representative André Carson, Sam Carson's nephew, endorsed Melina Kennedy.{{cite web | url = http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/35020/messy-family-stuff | title = Messy Family Stuff | publisher = onPolitix | date = February 14, 2011 | access-date = November 8, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120313124449/http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/35020/messy-family-stuff | archive-date = March 13, 2012 | url-status = dead }} Kennedy was also endorsed by The Indianapolis Star and the Indianapolis Fraternal Order of Police.{{cite news | url=http://www.indystar.com/article/20111030/OPINION08/110300377/Editorial-Board-endorsement-City-needs-Kennedy | title = Editorial Board endorsement: City needs Kennedy | newspaper = The Indianapolis Star | date = October 30, 2011 | access-date = November 8, 2011}}{{cite web | url=http://www.indianapolisrecorder.com/news/local/article_26771c2c-da35-11e0-ba0d-001cc4c002e0.html | title = FOP endorses Kennedy for mayor | publisher = Indianapolis Recorder | date = September 8, 2011 | access-date = November 9, 2011}}
=Polling=
| class="wikitable" |
| valign= bottom
! Poll source ! style="width:135px;"| Date(s) ! class=small | Sample ! Margin of ! style="width:100px;"| Greg ! style="width:100px;"| Melina ! Other ! Undecided |
| EPIC-MRA[https://archive.today/20130130184849/http://indiana.onpolitix.com/news/82671/greg-ballard-leads-indianapolis-mayors-race/ EPIC-MRA]
| align=center| October 29–31, 2011 | align=center| 400 | align=center| ± 4.9% | {{party shading/Republican}} align=center| 44% | align=center| 33% | align=center| — | align=center| 23% |
Election results
{{Election box begin |title=Indianapolis mayoral election, 2011}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link
|party = Republican Party (United States)
|candidate = Greg Ballard (incumbent)
|votes = 92,499
|percentage = 51.3%
|change = +0.9%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Democratic Party (United States)
|candidate = Melina Kennedy
|votes = 84,968
|percentage = 47.1%
|change = -0.1%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link
|party = Libertarian Party (United States)
|candidate = Christopher Bowen
|votes = 2,676
|percentage = 1.5
|change = -0.8
}}
{{Election box candidate
|party = No party
|candidate = Write-Ins
|votes = 124
|percentage = 0.1
|change = —
}}
{{Election box turnout
|votes = 181,168
|percentage = 29.9
|change = +3.7
}}
{{Election box majority
|votes = 7,531
|percentage = 4.2
|change =
}}
{{Election box hold with party link
|winner = Republican Party (United States)
|swing =
}}
{{Election box end}}
{{sequence
| prev= 2007
| list= Indianapolis mayoral election
2011
| next= 2015
}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [http://www.mayorgregballard.com/index.html Greg Ballard for Mayor]
- [http://www.melinakennedy.com/ Melina Kennedy for Mayor]
{{United States elections, 2011}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Indianapolis Mayoral Election, 2011}}