Indianapolis, IN
Hogsett could win a fourth term as Indy mayor. He shouldn’t try. | Opinion
Amid ongoing successes, there are constant signs that the Hogsett administration is fraying.
Hogsett apologizes over former chief of staff allegations
Hogsett apologizes to victims of alleged sexual harassment by former chief of staff during City County-Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 in Indianapolis.
Mayor Joe Hogsett said he wouldn’t run for a third term. Then he did. So, he doesn’t have much room to be annoyed that some people are asking whether he might run for a fourth term despite saying he wouldn’t.
Mirror Indy last month asked Hogsett why he’s still holding fundraisers during a Tarkington Park groundbreaking. “I don’t want to answer a political question at a city event,” he said, even though he spent much of 2023 holding city press conferences for the benefit of his reelection campaign.
Hogsett might not want to talk about it. But people in and around city government are increasingly getting the sense that he is considering running again in 2027. It’s his right to do that if he wants — and he’d probably win again.
But it’d be a really bad idea.
Hogsett’s chase for legacy
Nine years into Hogsett’s tenure, I maintain my view that he’s been an above average big-city mayor.
You can break Hogsett’s tenure so far into three parts: the early years, when he sought financial stability above all else; the middle years, defined by a once-in-100-years pandemic, riots and crime spikes; and, more recently, a chase for legacy.
Hogsett’s early obsession with fiscal discipline put Indianapolis in position to weather an unforeseeable pandemic and come out the other side better positioned than many other big cities. Downtown is returning to normal and the crime that skyrocketed during 2020 and beyond is trending downward.
The mayor has since pivoted to a more aggressive approach. He’s building a city-owned hotel, overseeing the long-anticipated redevelopment of Circle Centre and chasing a Major League Soccer dream that many, if not most, people thought was insane almost a year ago.
These efforts mark a departure from Hogsett’s early, cautious years and return us, at least to some extent, to the Greg Ballard era, when the former Republican mayor was using creative financing schemes to build projects, including 360 Market Square and CityWay.
Hogsett’s MLS pursuit also bears obvious resemblance to former Mayor Bill Hudnut’s deals to build a stadium and land the Colts. Hogsett is closing in on landing an MLS club and that could very well be what he is remembered for above all else.
Hogsett has been through three elections now in which his critics have failed to articulate a strong case against him and, more importantly, failed to persuade voters to reject him. I remain convinced that Hogsett has governed more or less like a moderate big-city Republican and that, if you put an R next to his name, Republicans would be generally happy with the job he’s done — as are most Indianapolis residents.
Hogsett’s effectiveness is waning
Amid ongoing successes, though, there are constant signs that the Hogsett administration is fraying.
Hogsett’s record is stained, at the very least, by last year’s revelations that the mayor failed to protect women on staff from men who were abusing their power. An ongoing investigation could reveal even worse information, further altering how we view Hogsett.
A third term would be harrowing even under the best of circumstances. But the sexual harassment scandal has cast a pall over the City-County Building, exhausting staff and making the Hogsett administration an even less desirable place to work.
Staffing issues are showing up at the highest levels within the administration. The Democratic-controlled City-County Council last month pushed back on Hogsett appointees to lead Indianapolis Animal Care Services and serve as deputy mayor of public health and safety.
Both cases are complicated, with blame to spread around, but Hogsett at the very least mishandled the politics surrounding those appointments. It is stunning for a Democratic-controlled council to reject two routine appointments by a Democratic mayor.
Filling leadership and staff positions is part of the nuts-and-bolts job of being mayor. Hogsett’s effectiveness is waning.
Hogsett likely will achieve his goal of serving long enough to reshape Indianapolis in ways that will be visible for generations to come. He’s also served long enough to bring about scandal and test the patience of those around him.
He might get to go out on top. That seems much less likely if he runs for mayor again.
Contact James Briggs at 317-444-4732 or james.briggs@indystar.com. Follow him on X and Threads at @JamesEBriggs.
IndyCar race results from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway
IndyCar Series drivers are on the grid in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway road course is set to host a day of open wheel racing.
View Indianapolis race results for the IndyCar Series below.
Alex Palou and Pato O’Ward set the front row. 85 laps laps of stock car racing are up next…
Race Report
Green flag, Alex Palou is clear out of turn one. Pato O’Ward is turned! Scott Dixon and others are collected. The caution is out.
Penalty: Felix Rosenqvist will serve a drive thru penalty for contact in turn one.
Green, Palou leads Malukas and Kirkwood into turn one.
Lap 7, Kirkwood dives inside of Malukas into turn one. Kirkwood takes 2nd away.
Lap 21, Alexander Rossi is stalled and the caution is out. Multiple pit strategies are now in play.
Palou heads for the pit lane. Power is handed the lead as Palou restarts 19th.
Green, Power leads Malukas and Lundgaard. Felix Rosenqvist jumps over the top of Kyffin Simpson, caution.
Power pits from the lead with others. Malukas is handed the lead.
Green, Malukas leads Lunagaard into turn one.
Lap 48, Malukas and others head for the pit lane. Lundgaard pits the following lap. Malukas cycles out ahead. Malukas is saving fuel.
Lap 52, Power leads Malukas by 8 seconds.
Lap 63, Alex Palou pits for the final time from 5th.
20 to go, Lundgaard and many of the leaders dive for the pit lane. A lap later, Malukas heads for the pit lane.
Malukas cycles out ahead of Lundgaard. Lundgaard trails by 1.3 seconds.
18 to go, Lundgaard is all over the gearbox of the leader! Malukas blocks the inside into turn one. He misses a shift and Lundgaard pulls on the outside. They fight for space into turn four, Lundgaard to the lead!
8 to go, Lundgaard leads Malukas by 3 seconds. He’s driving away.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Race Results
May 9, 2026
IndyCar Series
Pos | Driver
1. Christian Lundgaard
2. David Malukas
3. Graham Rahal
4. Josef Newgarden
5. Alex Palou
6. Scott Dixon
7. Louis Foster
8. Dennis Hauger
9. Kyle Kirkwood
10. Nolan Siegel
11. Marcus Armstrong
12. Kyffin Simpson
13. Will Power
14. Santino Ferrucci
15. Rinus VeeKay
16. Scott McLaughlin
17. Sting Ray Robb
18. Pato O’Ward
19. Caio Collet
20. Mick Schumacher
21. Romain Grosjean
22. Marcus Ericsson
23. Felix Rosenqvist
24. Christian Rasmussen
25. Alexander Rossi
IndyCar Series
Point Standings
Pending
Indianapolis Motor Speedway
Video Highlights
Pending
Links
Indianapolis Motor Speedway | Indycar
TODAY
Early clouds give way to gradual clearing, and the afternoon turns much nicer than the damp start might suggest. Highs reach the mid 70s, with a west-southwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. Once we get past the morning gray, this looks like a very usable day for outdoor plans, just a bit breezy at times.
TONIGHT
Clouds increase again overnight, and scattered showers with a few thunderstorms may arrive late, mainly after 3 a.m. Lows settle in the mid 50s, with a light breeze becoming northerly late. Most of the evening stays quiet, but by early Sunday morning a few neighborhoods could hear some rain on the roof.
MOTHER’S DAY
Cooler than Saturday, with a mix of clouds and some breaks of sun along with the chance for an isolated shower. Highs top out in the mid 60s, and a north breeze around 5 to 10 mph adds a slightly cooler feel. It is not a washout, but it is also not as nice as Saturday afternoon, especially south of Indianapolis where a stray shower may hang on longer.
TOMORROW NIGHT
Partly cloudy and cooler, with lows in the mid 40s and a north northeast breeze around 5 to 10 mph. The air dries out nicely, and this looks like a quiet, comfortable night across central Indiana.
MONDAY
Bright and seasonably cool with sunshine taking over. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light north wind around 5 to 10 mph in the afternoon. This looks like one of the cleaner forecast days of the stretch, great for errands, practices, or getting outside without weather trouble.
MONDAY NIGHT
Mostly clear and chilly again, with lows in the low to mid 40s and light wind fading late. Quiet weather continues, and there are no meaningful travel concerns overnight.
TUESDAY
Another decent start, then clouds begin to increase later with a chance for showers and thunderstorms after mid afternoon. Highs reach the mid 60s, with a light south southwest breeze around 5 to 10 mph. Most of the day still looks usable, but the late afternoon and evening carry the next better rain signal.
TUESDAY NIGHT
Showers and thunderstorms become more likely for part of the night before activity starts to ease later on. Lows hold in the low to mid 50s, with a south-southwest wind around 10 to 15 mph and gusts up to 25 mph. It does not look like a high-end severe setup right now, but it is enough of a signal to keep an eye on late evening plans.
WEDNESDAY
A leftover shower is possible early, then the trend turns drier with more sun returning through the day. Highs recover into the upper 60s, and a northwest breeze around 10 to 15 mph with gusts up to 25 mph will make it feel a little brisker at times. The day improves as it goes, and by afternoon it should look much better than the early morning may suggest.
7 DAY FORECAST
After a milder Saturday and a small late Saturday night into Sunday shower window, the broader pattern settles down for Sunday night and Monday with quieter, cooler weather in place. The next more meaningful chance for rain arrives Tuesday into Tuesday night as another system approaches, then drier conditions return Wednesday as that system pulls away. Temperatures run in the 70s Saturday, slip back into the 60s Sunday through Tuesday, then edge a little milder again by midweek. Confidence is best in the quiet Sunday night through Monday stretch, while the exact timing of Tuesday afternoon and Tuesday night rain could still wobble a bit.
Editor’s note: This interview is part of our ‘Meet the Candidates’ show. Watch past episodes here.
After working in education for about 15 years, Andrea Hunley won her first bid for political office four years ago in an Indiana Senate district covering the core of Indianapolis.
On May 8, Hunley, 42, officially launched her campaign for an office that she says feels closer to home: Indianapolis mayor.
About a year ahead of the May 2027 mayoral primary, Hunley sat down with IndyStar on May 5 to discuss what she hopes to accomplish as mayor, why her candidacy differs from her challengers, and how she thinks about hot-button issues like education, public safety and data centers.
At this point, Hunley will face longtime Indianapolis City-County Councilor Vop Osili and Department of Public Works administrator David Bride. Both candidates will also be invited for sit-down interviews with IndyStar in the coming weeks.
Email Indianapolis City Hall Reporter Jordan Smith at JTSmith@indystar.com. Follow him on X @jordantsmith09 and Bluesky @jordanaccidentally.bsky.social.
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