2023 Gary, Indiana mayoral election
An election for Mayor of Gary, Indiana is scheduled to be held on November 7, 2023. Primary elections were held on May 2.[1][2] Incumbent mayor Jerome Prince ran for re-election to a second term in office,[3] but he was defeated by Democratic primary challenger and state senator Eddie Melton.[1][4] This election marked the first time in the history of Gary, Indiana that a one-term mayor was defeated in a reelection bid.[3]
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Melton and Republican challenger Andrew Delano advanced to the general election.[4][5]
Background
Mayors in Gary, Indiana are partisan and serve four (4) year terms, with no term limits.[6] Incumbent mayor Jerome Prince was first elected after defeating then two-term Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson in 2019.[7] Prince had been criticized for his first term's lack of a permanent police chief, with his appointment of Indiana State Police Major Jerry Williams as interim police chief receiving feedback of "it's going to kill morale".[1] His challenger Melton had also criticized him for his "abortive attempt" to sell the Genesis Convention Center to a company that later defaulted and was sued by the city.[4][8]
In late January 2023, Prince announced his reelection bid against Democratic primary challengers state senator Eddie Melton and truck driver Danien J. Walls.[3] In February 2023, Lake County Democratic Party chairman Jim Wieser announced he would be seeking to remove Walls from the ballot, on the grounds that Walls "had no history of having voted as a Democrat".[9] Party affiliation requirements have to be met to run for a major party in an Indiana primary, whereby a candidate should have requested for the primary ballot of that party and voted in that party's two prior primary elections, or obtain a waiver from the county party chair.[10][6] As Walls had not met either condition, the board upheld Wieser's challenge and removed Walls from the ballot.[10]
In April 2023, Howey Politics Indiana rated the Democratic primary race as a toss-up after a slew of "decisive endorsements".[11] This election marked the first time in the history of Gary, Indiana that a one-term mayor was defeated in a reelection bid,[3] and it also marked the second election in a row where an incumbent mayor was defeated by a challenger.[7] Earlier in February 2023, fellow one-term incumbent mayor of the neighboring city of Chicago, Lori Lightfoot, had placed third in the first round and therefore did not advance to the runoff.[12]
The population of Gary had fallen by 61% from its peak in the 1960s down to only 66,583 residents as of December 2022.[13] Akin to the downward trend in population, the Democratic primary tally of 10,790 votes was 4,000 fewer votes than the 2019 mayoral race.[1]
Candidates
Advanced to the general
- Eddie Melton, state senator from the 3rd district since 2016[4]
Eliminated in the primary
- Jerome Prince, incumbent mayor of Gary, Indiana since 2020[4]
Endorsements
- State legislators
- Earline Rogers, former state senator from the 3rd district (1990–2016)[1]
- Individuals
- Jackie Jackson, musician from The Jackson 5[2]
- Marlon Jackson, dancer and musician from The Jackson 5[2]
- Tito Jackson, musician from The Jackson 5[2]
- Deniece Williams, singer[15]
- Newspapers and other media
- Labor unions
- Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 61[15]
- Gary Teachers Union - American Federation of Teachers Local 4[15]
- Indiana/Kentucky/Ohio Regional Council of Carpenters[15]
- International Association of Fire Fighters Local 359[15]
- Northwest Indiana Association of Realtors[15]
- UNITE HERE Local 1[15]
- United Steelworkers Local 7 and Local 1066[11][15]
- Labor unions
- International Union of Operating Engineers Local 150[17]
- International Brotherhood of Teamsters Local 142
- Northwest Indiana Building and Construction Trades Council
- United Steelworkers Local 1014
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eddie Melton | 6,345 | 58.87 | |
| Democratic | Jerome Prince (incumbent) | 4,438 | 41.13 | |
| Turnout | 10,790 | 100.00 | ||
Advanced to the general
- Andrew Delano[4]
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Andrew Delano (unopposed) | 192 | 100.00 | |
| Turnout | 192 | 100.00 | ||
General election
Results
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Eddie Melton | |||
| Republican | Andrew Delano | |||
| Total votes | 100.00 | |||
References
- "Gary voters pick Melton in Democratic mayoral contest". Chicago Crusader. The 411 News. May 5, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Carden, Dan (March 21, 2023). "The Jacksons endorse Eddie Melton for Gary mayor". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "Gary's Mayor Prince opens his campaign headquarters for second term". Gary 411 Weekly News. January 30, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Dalton, Alex (May 3, 2023). "Eddie Melton declares victory in Democratic primary for Gary mayor". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Gallenberger, Michael (2023-05-03). "Gary mayor unseated in primary". WFYI Public Media. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- Fajman, Michelle R.; Angerman, LeAnn J. (January 6, 2023). "Election Candidates: Candidate Filing Information" (PDF). Lake County Board of Elections and Registration. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Blakley, Derrick (May 8, 2019). "Karen Freeman-Wilson Unseated In Gary Mayoral Race". CBS News 2 Chicago. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Napoleon, Carrie (February 10, 2022). "Gary, tech developer settle after default; Genesis Center, Ivanhoe again marked for redevelopment". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Dolan, Bill (February 11, 2023). "Porter and LaPorte ballots are set, Lake County has more drama to go". The Times of Northwest Indiana. Retrieved 2023-05-09.
- Napoleon, Carrie (February 21, 2023). "Gary, Hobart mayoral candidates kicked off ballot due to party dispute". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Howey, Brian A. (April 6, 2023). "Steelworkers endorse Melton in tossup race". State Affairs Pro Indiana. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Reed, Betsy (March 1, 2023). "Lori Lightfoot fails to advance to runoff vote for second term as Chicago's mayor". The Guardian US. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Jones, Jennifer (December 7, 2023). "10 Largest Cities In Indiana By Population". Largest.org. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Napoleon, Carrie; Lavalley, Amy (January 28, 2023). "Municipal candidates continue to file, giving a clearer picture of May primary ballot". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "Senator Eddie Melton releases comprehensive housing policy". Chicago Crusader. April 10, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "2023 GARY CRUSADER POLITICAL ENDORSEMENTS". Chicago Crusader. Gary Crusader. April 29, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- "IUOE Local 150 Endorsed Candidates - Indiana Municipal Election: May 2, 2023" (PDF). IUOE Local 150. April 17, 2023. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
- Fajman, Michelle R.; Angerman, Leann J. "Lake County, Indiana 2023 Municipal Primary Election Results". Lake County Board of Elections and Registration. Retrieved May 9, 2023.
External links
- Official campaign websites
Notes
- The website listed in his bio just redirects to his Twitter account.