Marion County voters remain split in the upcoming prosecutor’s race. A poll conducted by national consulting firm Opinion Diagnostics for the Marion County Republican Party surveyed 1,363 registered voters on their candidate preferences, public‑safety concerns and the direction of Indianapolis.
Poll numbers
The survey shows 37% of respondents intend to vote for incumbent Democratic prosecutor Ryan Mears, while 28% say they would support Republican challenger Philip Foust. The remaining 35% of voters are still undecided.
Candidate backgrounds
Foust, a Harvard Law graduate who previously served as a deputy prosecutor in Marion County, says the numbers reflect what he is hearing from voters on the campaign trail. “Republicans, Democrats and independents — they’re just fed up with Ryan Mears treating Marion County like an ideological experiment,” Foust told Mirror Indy. “There’s a majority of people who want someone focused on public safety while he runs for mayor next year.”
Mears, who has been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate in 2027, declined to confirm any plans. “I wouldn’t necessarily say I’m weighing it,” he said. “Your focus is always on your current job, and as soon as you start thinking about the next job, you’re not gonna do a great job at your current job. I think it’s important that’s where the focus is, and that’s where my focus is going to continue to be.”
Public‑safety sentiment
Only 34% of respondents believe Indianapolis is moving in the right direction on public safety, underscoring the importance of the issue in this race.
Fundraising gap
Financial disclosures reveal a steep fundraising advantage for Mears, who reported $387,000 on hand as of April 15, compared with just over $36,000 for Foust.
Historical context
The race is the first time Republicans have a realistic shot at a countywide office in more than a decade. In 2022, a Republican challenge fell short despite a strong candidate in former Indiana inspector general Cyndi Carrasco, who accused Mears of running his office like a “revolving door” for repeat offenders. Mears won that election by a wide margin after Indianapolis recorded a record year of homicides in 2021.
Expert view
Laura Merrifield Wilson, professor of political science at the University of Indianapolis, notes, “Carrasco and Foust are strong candidates but this is a partisan race and they are the minority party in this jurisdiction. Barring an October surprise, Mears maintains an upper hand.”
Mirror Indy, a nonprofit newsroom, funded through grants and donations, provided the original reporting. For further details, contact Peter Blanchard at [email protected].
Original reporting: Mirror Indy — read the source article.
