The 2027 mayoral race is officially on

Driving the news: Vop Osili, longtime Democratic City-County Council member, confirmed yesterday the rumors that he's running for mayor.

What he's saying: "This campaign isn't about ideology or political labels," Osili said in a news release announcing his campaign. "It's about whether city government is delivering the basics people rely on every day — safe and stable housing, public safety rooted in trust and humanity, and real economic opportunity."

• The Nigerian-born architect is a fifth-generation Indianapolis resident, according to his campaign website. He and his wife, Una, have two children.
• Osili has served 14 years on the council and spent eight years as president before stepping down from the role at the end of last year.

The big picture: After initially saying his third term would be his last, Mayor Joe Hogsett hasn't confirmed whether or not he'll seek reelection. He's held fundraisers in the last year, signaling a potential run, but it would likely be a tougher path to victory than his past campaigns.

• Multiple city-county councilors called for Hogsett's resignation last year over his handling of sexual harassment allegations made against his former chief of staff Thomas Cook and his own behavior with young female staffers.
• "Mayor Hogsett remains focused on governing for the remaining two years of this term — continuing to deliver safer neighborhoods, better roads, and investments that improve the quality of life for all Indianapolis residents," Emily Gurwitz, a spokesperson for Hogsett's campaign, told Axios in an email.

Between the lines: Osili is also likely to receive questions about the handling of those allegations and investigation into them.

• He was criticized last year when he directed Lauren Roberts, one of Cook's accusers, to be forcibly removed from the City-County Council chamber for going over the public comment time limit.

What's next: Osili is the first to announce, but others are expected to jump into the race soon.

• State Sen. Andrea Hunley and Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears are among those rumored to be considering runs.
• Neither has filed for reelection for their current positions as of Thursday, according to the Secretary of State's Election Division records.

"I remain focused on doing the work the people elected me to do — delivering justice with integrity, prioritizing violent crime, and strengthening community safety in ways that are tough on crime and smart on justice," Mears told Axios in a statement. "I'm looking forward to continuing to serve as Marion County Prosecutor and earning the community's confidence in 2026, with my attention fully on the people of this county and their trust in the system."

Hunley told Axios she'll be making an announcement about her plans for the future soon.

• "I'm looking forward to seeing who else is going to get into the race," Hunley said when asked about Osili's candidacy. "I think that it will be good for the city to have options, so we don't have more of the same."