Joe Hogsett, a Democrat, wins a third term as mayor of Indianapolis

Joe Hogsett, a Democrat, won a third term as mayor of Indianapolis, defeating a Republican businessman who spent more than $13 million of his own money on the race. Mr. Hogsett announced his victory to supporters on Tuesday evening after his opponent, Jefferson Shreve, gave a concession speech as There were still voices counted.

Mr. Hogsett, a 67-year-old former federal prosecutor, claimed during his campaign that he was better equipped to increase public safety, create jobs and improve the city’s infrastructure. Mr. Shreve criticized Mr. Hogsett’s record on economic development and policing, noting that police suffered from staff shortages.

The race to control Indianapolis, Indiana’s capital and most populous city, was more expensive than any previous mayoral campaign in the city. according to the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Mr. Shreve, a former member of the Indianapolis City-County Council whose company built storage facilities in the Midwest, amassed more than $14 million, almost all of it self-funded. Mr. Hogsett raised just over $6 million.

Indianapolis, a left-wing metropolis of about 880,000 residents in a state that Republicans have come to dominate, has a history of electing both Democratic and Republican mayors. Although Democrats have a large majority on the City Council, Mr. Hogsett’s predecessor, Greg Ballard, is a Republican.

Mr. Hogsett and Mr. Shreve agreed on several issues. Both said the city urgently needed to hire more police officers and pledged to make major investments to improve roads and revitalize downtown. They also said they would urge state lawmakers to pass stricter gun laws.

During his campaign, Mr. Hogsett asserted that the city was on solid footing after a challenging period, including the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic, civil unrest following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis and a wave of violence in 2021. That year Indianapolis had one record number of murdersincluding a shooting that left nine people dead at a FedEx warehouse.

Mr. Hogsett campaigned on his efforts to pass balanced city budgets for seven consecutive years, including a 2024 budget totaling $1.5 billion. the city’s council has approved unanimously last month.

During the final weeks of the race, the city’s overcrowded animal shelter emerged as a controversial issue. Indianapolis has been working on a plan to move the shelter, Indianapolis Animal Care Services, to a new $30 million facility. Mr Shreve, who has said he is passionate about animal welfare, promised to donate his salary as mayor of Indianapolis Animal Care Services and to quickly build a new facility with adequate space and resources.