Mayor Greg Ballard was narrowly re-elected to a second term as Indianapolis Mayor, but Democrats captured control of the City-County Council in a closely contested Mayoral and Council election.
Ballard beat Democratic challenger Melina Kennedy 91,660 to 84,269 in unofficial returns from the Marion County Election Board. Ballard’s victory margin of 7,391 was the second narrowest victory margin of Indianapolis Mayor, after Ballard’s upset 5,312 vote win four years ago.
While Ballard reclaims the Mayor’s Office for republicans, democrats gained three City-County Council seats to gain a majority 16 to 13. Democrats captured all four At Large Council seats, despite losing the mayor’s race. The first time that’s happened in the history of Uni-Gov.
Democrats John Barth, Pam Hickman, Zack Adamson and Leroy Robinson defeated their four Republican and four Libertarian challengers.
One Republican incumbent, Susie Day was defeated as was Libertarian incumbent Ed Coleman and Democratic incumbent Dane Mahern.
All incumbent African-American Democratic Councilors won re-election. They were joined by newcomers Vop Osili and Joe Simpson. Incumbent African-American republican Barbara Malone was defeated.
City-County Council winners were: Jose Evans (D-Dist 1); Angela Mansfield (D-Dist 2); Ryan Vaughn (R-Dist 3), Christine Scales (R-Dist 4), Virginia Cain (R-Dist 5); Janice McHenry (R-Dist 6); Maggie Lewis (D-Dist 7); Monroe Gray (D-Dist 8); Joe Simpson (D-Dist 9); William Oliver (D-Dist 10); Steve Talley (D-Dist 11); Mike McQuillen (R-Dist 12); Robert Lutz (R-Dist 13); Marilyn Pfisterer (R-Dist 14); Vop Osili (D-Dist 15); Brian Mahern (D-Dist 16); Mary Moriarty-Adams (D-Dist 17); Vernon Brown (D-Dist 18); Jeff Miller (R-Dist 19); Frank Mascari (D-Dist 20); Benjamin Hunter (R-Dist 21); Jason Holliday (R-Dist 22); Jeff Cardwell (R-Dist 23); Jack Sandlin (R-Dist 24); Aaron Freeman (R-Dist 25).
Democrats also captured the Lawrence and Beech Grove Mayor’s office and control of the Beech Grove City Council.
