Vop Osili sets vision for mayoral run: ‘Always thinking about what’s next and what’s best’ for Indy
Here are several key takeaways from IBJ’s 45-minute conversation with the mayoral candidate.
Here are several key takeaways from IBJ’s 45-minute conversation with the mayoral candidate.
“Our city needs bold leadership to be a world class destination for people to work, play, study, and stay,” the Indianapolis Democrat said in a Friday news release. “I am not going anywhere.”
While Vop Osili is the first Democrat to announce a run, he’s not expected to be the last. Osili enters what could be crowded race that could include the third-term incumbent Mayor Joe Hogsett.
J.D. Ford’s departure from State Senate District 29 leaves an open seat up for grabs, and a prominent local minister has already announced his plans to run for it.
Currently, 10 states hold general elections for utility regulators. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle think Indiana should join them.
Another measure bans ranked choice voting, which isn’t used in Indiana.
All nine U.S. House and 100 Indiana House seats are up for election this year, along with half of the 50 Indiana Senate seats. The candidate filing period ends at noon Feb. 6.
Walker was a vocal Republican critic of the redistricting plan pushed by President Donald Trump—and was one of several lawmakers who faced swatting or other intimidation tactics ahead of the Senate’s vote last month against redrawing the congressional maps.
District 31, which includes parts of Hamilton and Marion counties, is currently held by Sen. Kyle Walker, R-Lawrence, who announced earlier this month that he will not seek a second term.
Officials confirmed during Thursday’s meeting that the Indiana Office of Inspector General has already referred the matter for criminal review, and that process remains ongoing.
District 31 is currently represented by Republican Kyle Walker, who announced earlier this month that he will not seek reelection next year.
Bills to eliminate straight-ticket voting have been introduced numerous times in the Legislature over the past decade without winning passage.
The Senate Elections Committee approved the measure after a six-hour public hearing on the bill that was largely dedicated to public testimony.
The Indiana House passed a set of new congressional maps that would give Republicans a marked advantage in the next election. Twelve Republicans joined Democrats in voting against the legislation, which now heads to the Senate.
Indiana House Democrats on Monday decried the drafted maps as an “egregious gerrymander” and attempted multiple procedural maneuvers to prevent the legislative session from starting.
As redistricting rhetoric intensifies in Indiana, at least four Republican state senators who oppose the prospect—or are undecided—have reported attempted swatting attacks.
Republican Indiana legislative leaders avoided taking questions Monday about the political pressure they are facing from President Donald Trump over congressional redistricting, while the governor accused GOP senators of “hiding behind closed doors.”
In a Truth Social post on Sunday, President Trump attacked Indiana state senators who declined to consider redistricting and said Braun “perhaps is not working the way he should” to round up support.
As the size of the race increases, the rules unique to independent candidates become nearly impossible to overcome.
The decision came as communities in four other Indiana districts also approved school tax questions in special elections.