Andrea Hunley’s campaign for mayor of Indianapolis includes promises of free pre-K, putting $1 billion toward road repairs and doubling the arts budget.
Hunley laid out her policy proposals Nov. 5 at an eastside events center.
The event was half party, half study hall, with supporters splitting off into breakout sessions focused on Hunley’s four policy pillars: families, housing, safety and culture.
“This is the vision of a city that is run by us,” she told dozens of supporters, many of whom were sporting new Andrea Hunley T-shirts and signs.
Hunley, a state senator and former Indianapolis Public Schools principal, launched her run for mayor in the spring.
She’s one of three Democrats running so far.
City-County Councilor Vop Osili announced his candidacy in January. David Bride, an administrator in the city’s Department of Public Works, is also running.
No Republican candidates have announced intentions to run.
Here’s what a Hunley administration would focus on. The full policy list is on Hunley’s campaign website.
Free pre-K and higher wages
Hunley began her policy rollout with home economics.
“We’re going to have free pre-K,” she told the crowd to cheers.
Hunley preemptively addressed concerns about how to pay for pre-K and her other goals.
While Hunley said she isn’t ready to roll out a tax policy yet, she did say there are “taxing tools” the city can use beyond raising income taxes.
“We can’t keep asking families to dig deeper,” Hunley said.
Hunley also wants to grow the median wage in Indianapolis by 25%. In the greater metropolitan area, the average wage in May 2025 was $31.34, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Build more homes
Hunley wants to see Indianapolis build 30,000 homes by 2032. She said the city can accomplish that by making it easier and more affordable to build houses, which in turn can make them less expensive for buyers.
Hunley’s plan includes issuing city bonds with lower interest rates to make it cheaper for developers to borrow money.
“These are solvable challenges,” she said of Indy’s housing problems, “and we’re the ones who can fix them.”
Hunley also wants to reduce evictions by 50% by 2032.
Public safety
Hunley’s public safety plan includes reducing the number of homicides and nonfatal shootings by half by 2031, as well as growing a city initiative to respond to mental health emergencies.
But Hunley’s public safety priorities also include infrastructure.
“We have to talk about the potholes, right?” she joked.
Hunley wants to put $1 billion toward road repairs and add $75 to the annual budget for Indy Parks — which in 2027 will get about $54 million.
Culture as economics
Hunley reminded everyone of Indy’s unofficial title as Amateur Sports Capital of the World.
Indianapolis could put that same energy into arts and culture, she said.
Her plan includes creating 4,100 new jobs in the arts sector by 2032 and doubling the arts budget.
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Mirror Indy reporter Tyler Fenwick covers housing and labor. Contact him at 317-766-1406 or tyler.fenwick@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @ty_fenwick and Bluesky @tyfenwick.bsky.social.
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