9:30 p.m.: Joe Hogsett watch party
Hogsett supporters find reason to dance
Dana Black’s feet never stopped moving as she celebrated all of the Democrats who won on Election Night.
Indiana’s own Dana Black, as her friends call her, danced around while election results for Indianapolis began rolling in around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Democratic watch party at Kountry Kitchen in Indianapolis.
Black said she was there in support of all the Democrats on the ballot.
“Indianapolis is not looking for Republican leadership. We see how they govern at the Statehouse and in Washington, D.C. We want someone who actually cares—cares for our working class folks, minorities, women’s reproductive rights and really all our marginalized communities,” Black said. “That’s why Mayor Joe was reelected for a third term.”
After watching Jefferson Shreve’s concession speech on the big screen, Black broke out into song and dance again.
—Sydney Byerly, TheStatehouseFile.com
Ruth Morales and her small daughter, Amelia Ruiz Morales, danced in the front of the room to get some of the wiggles out at the Hogsett watch party. Morales said her daughter loves to dance, and she hoped dancing with her would stop her from trying to run up on stage.
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9 p.m.: Jefferson Shreve watch party
Shreve pledges support for Hogsett and capital city after loss
Republican candidate Jefferson Shreve concedes the Indianapolis mayoral race to Joe Hogsett Tuesday night.
Republican candidate Jefferson Shreve lost the Indianapolis mayoral race to Joe Hogsett. His concession focused on his gratitude for his wife Mary’s support as well as his continued support to Hogsett during the upcoming term.
“Through all this, I could not have come to this point without Mary’s consistency and love, and I am so grateful,” Shreve said. “A few moments ago, I offered to be vigorously involved in trying to move our city forward as a private citizen.”
After nine months working on a campaign and many more hours spent at the polls today, Shreve lost about 35-65% as of 9 p.m.
“He [Hogsett] has won the night. Sixty-five to 35 is sobering, and we just have to learn to work within that model to advance change and improve our city,” Shreve said. “I have grown tremendously and grown to appreciate my town. I come away from this with more conviction to be involved in making Indianapolis a better place than it already is.”
Shreve ended his speech by restating his thankfulness for everyone’s support and an offer to keep the bar open.
–Maggie McGuire, TheStateHouseFiles.com
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8 p.m.: Jefferson Shreve watch party
‘I feel like you should be the best person’
Before Jefferson Shreve conceded the Indianapolis mayoral election around 9 p.m. Tuesday, Derek Jefferson watched votes coming in at the Republican watch party Tuesday night. Jefferson was on the production team of Republican mayoral candidate Shreve’s first commercial.
“As an African American, most of us have been raised or programmed that we should be Democratic, but I have always been independent,” Jefferson said. “I look at the person, and at this point I feel like you should be the best person for what I want out of leadership.”
Jefferson believed that Shreve would bring a change to the city—a change that Indianapolis needs.
“I personally have lost family members on the administration of Joe Hogsett. Crime is a big issue here, and I think he can really tackle the crime,” Jefferson said. “He can’t fix it but he can out things in place to make it much better.”
—Maggie McGuire, TheStatehouseFile.com
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2 p.m.: Elevation Church, Indianapolis
Assisted-living home makes sure residents get to polls
Dwight Pickerl heads inside to vote. After casting his vote, Pickerl paused by the bus for a quick photo.
Rosegate Assisted Living brought residents to vote Tuesday afternoon at Elevation Church in Indianapolis. Dwight Pickerl, a retired veteran, was excited to get to the polls.
“It’s a chance to express your opinions,” he said.
He added he hopes to see the next mayor help unhoused individuals and is grateful for Rosegate taking good care of residents and transporting them on Election Day.
—Sydney Byerly & Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com
‘I feel it’s incredibly important’
Anita Reasoner-Meyer and her fellow resident stand next to the transport bus. She praised her assisted-living facility that transported her: “Make sure you get the logo in it! They deserve the advertisement,” she said. She waved goodbye when loading back on the shuttle. “A blessed day to you,” she said.
Rosegate Assisted Living resident Anita Reasoner-Meyer exited the polls at Elevation Church in Indianapolis with a smile on her face.
“If I was any better, I would be illegal,” she said.
She said she even smiles behind her mask because “you can see someone’s smile in their eyes” and that she wants to provide comic relief on an important day.
The past few years, her health caused her to vote absentee. But Tuesday it was important for her to make it in person.
“Our retirement community was kind enough to provide transportation for us to go vote. I wanted to vote in person this time instead of an absentee ballot,” said Reasoner-Meyer. “I thought, ‘Oh, they’re going to provide transportation, let me go directly to the precinct.”
She added that no matter the form it gets done in, voting is essential.
“It’s a right that relatives of mine died to preserve, and I feel it’s incredibly important for me to exercise my right to vote,” she said. “There are so many countries in the world where they are only allowed to vote for the people who are in power. So I think it’s important for me to exercise, learn about the candidates, inform myself and try to vote for people who have values that are similar to mine so that we do not lose our American heritage of freedom for all.”
—Sydney Byerly & Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com
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Noon: Greenwood Public Library
Veteran and candidate rocks everything Army green at the polls
Erin Betron, a Republican candidate for Greenwood City Council At-Large, holds an olive green campaign sign in front of her matching green Jeep while sporting the same hue. Can you guess her favorite color?
While campaigning for a Greenwood City Council At-Large spot, Republican Erin Betron decked out in olive green from head to toe, greeting each person walking into the Greenwood Public Library to vote and thanking them on the way out.
“I was in the military for 24 years, so I wasn’t able to be involved in politics then, but I want to be able to continue to serve within my community,” Betron said.
Betron said she was glad there’s gorgeous weather for Election Day because standing outside greeting voters in the rain or cold wouldn’t have been very fun.
“I’m excited to see the results tonight because there’s just so much that I want to do going forward, so I’m really hoping for a win today,” she said.
—Sydney Byerly & Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com
Not her first rodeo
Linda Gibson, a seasoned election veteran at this point, stands outside the polls at the Greenwood Public Library interacting with voters and other candidates.
Elections never grow old for Linda Gibson, who has been campaigning for 20-plus years for herself and her husband.
“I enjoy helping people,” she said. “I think sometimes people want to do something, but they don’t know how to go about doing it, so I can try to help.”
Gibson has served as Greenwood City Council District 1’s representative for 14 years, and her husband has been on the council for 29 years. This year is her first running unopposed.
She said she’s looking forward to ongoing plans for improving the city’s walkability.
“I think it’s a big thing for all of our people…You can see so many families with strollers and dogs walking through there—people seem to really be enjoying it.”
—Sydney Byerly & Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com
Candidate happy to see new voters of any party
Cheery Charrie Stambaugh jumps up and down waving her sign over her head, excited to talk to voters.
A Greenwood resident for 20 years, Charrie Stambaugh said this year she decided “it was time to serve my community in a different way.”
Stambaugh is running as the only Democrat for a Greenwood City Council At-Large seat.
“I think that being made up of nine Republicans for the last 20 or so years, with no diversity whatsoever—it’s time for more people with diverse cultures and backgrounds to show up and be on the council,” she said.
Stambaugh said she’s excited to see people at the polls and to encourage more people to vote.
“One of the campaign platforms that we had was to get more people registered, so we actually have more people coming out for early voting and actually showing up at the polls,” Stambaugh said. “We’re bringing out people from all sides regardless of what party they vote.”
—Sydney Byerly & Kyra Howard, TheStatehouseFile.com