State Sen. Andrea Hunley formally outlined her case for becoming Indianapolis’ next mayor during a campaign event, emphasizing a need for new leadership, strategic planning, and better execution of existing ideas rather than a wholesale rejection of the city’s political establishment.
Hunley said she is running because she “refuse[s] to believe that this is as good as it gets” for Indianapolis, arguing that the city’s “best days are ahead of us” if it embraces what she described as a shift in governing culture. She framed that shift less as a change in basic priorities and more as a change in approach.
“The what of city government is always the same,” Hunley said, citing strong schools, safe roads, public safety, small business growth, and talent attraction as core responsibilities. “What’s different about me is the how — my approach.” She highlighted more than two decades in leadership roles and said she leads “in a collaborative way, in a way that’s transparent, in a way where I hold myself and everyone around me accountable.”
Hunley dismissed the narrative of “establishment versus outsiders” as a “fallacy,” contending instead that city leaders should “do more of what works and less of what doesn’t.” She noted that Indianapolis already has multiple “big, bold” vision plans developed by diverse groups, but argued those plans have largely remained “on a shelf” due to a lack of follow-through and political will.
The senator said she is running regardless of whether the current mayor seeks another term. When asked about the incumbent potentially pursuing a fourth term, Hunley said she is focused on “the next chapter in Indianapolis,” adding that financial resources for her campaign “are already coming” and that she is encouraged by the diversity of partners backing her effort.
Hunley stressed her data-driven style, telling attendees that her campaign has already analyzed who is attending events and where more outreach is needed. She said the room included residents “from Pike to Perry, from Beech Grove to Belmont Beach, from Wayne to Warren,” along with teachers, union workers, artists, musicians, business leaders, retirees, and lobbyists. She also noted the presence of out-of-town supporters, including family from Chicago.
On fiscal issues, Hunley pointed to her service on the Senate’s tax and fiscal policy committee and her involvement in Senate Enrolled Act 1, warning that Indianapolis faces a “budget cliff” in 2028 under existing tax caps. She said the city must pursue untapped federal grants, strengthen public-private partnerships, and leverage her relationships at the Statehouse, arguing that Marion County’s role in generating “30% of the state’s GDP” gives it leverage in those discussions. She also called for rooting out “waste and fraud” in city agencies and acknowledged that “tough decisions” will be necessary when money is short.
Hunley was critical of what she described as a “haphazard” and “hectic” approach to data center development and broader growth planning. She said a temporary pause on new data centers would be “wholly appropriate” to allow time for a coordinated strategy and meaningful community engagement.
Drawing on her background in education, Hunley argued that Indianapolis would be “better off having someone who’s an expert in education” as mayor, especially amid declining enrollment and complex dynamics among traditional, charter, and private schools. She noted there are 11 school districts in Marion County and said the mayor must partner with all of them, not just Indianapolis Public Schools.
On potential consolidation of township government, Hunley pointed to her Senate voting record and praised township trustees for serving the “neediest” residents. She said any talk of elimination would be “presumptuous” without a detailed plan to transition those services.
Hunley closed by telling supporters her next steps are simple: “We’re gonna dance a little more and we’re gonna raise some money, and I’m gonna win this thing.”
You can hear Hunley’s comments in the audio above. It runs about eight minutes.
