Vop Osili announces candidacy for Indianapolis mayor

City-County Councilor Vop Osili has entered the race for Indianapolis mayor. Osili, the former council president, is the first major Democrat to announce a mayoral bid for 2027.

Mayor Joe Hogsett is in his third term as mayor and has not said if he will run for reelection.

A press release announcing Osili's candidacy focused on housing affordability, public safety and expanding economic opportunities across the city.

In December, Osili announced he would not be running for City-County Council president after eight years in the position. Osili has served nearly 14 years on the council.

In a release, Osili said he is running for mayor because he believes Indianapolis "works best when opportunity is a promise, not a privilege, and when leadership starts with neighborhoods and delivers results people can feel in their daily lives.” 

Osili’s entry into the race comes as Hogsett faces scrutiny over how his administration handled sexual harassment complaints involving former Chief of Staff Thomas Cook, who left city government in late 2020. 

Separately, investigations published in 2025 raised questions about potential conflicts of interest involving economic development incentives tied to projects connected to Cook’s clients after his departure.

Some members of the City-County Council have called for Hogsett’s resignation.

In the 2023 Democratic primary election for mayor, Hogsett won with 58% of the vote, beating out four other candidates. He went on to beat Republican challenger Jefferson Shreve with nearly 60% of the vote.

Farrah Anderson is an investigative health reporter with WFYI and Side Effects Public Media. You can follow her on X at @farrahsoa or by email at fanderson@wfyi.org.