Abdul-Hakim Shabazz officially exploring mayoral run

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Abdul-Hakim Shabazz, an outspoken political commentator and editor of IndyPolitics.org, plans to create an exploratory committee as he considers a potential run for Indianapolis mayor as a Republican.

On the “Kendall & Casey Show” on WIBC-FM 93.1 on Wednesday, Shabazz said he now has his wife’s permission to take the next steps toward a mayoral campaign.

“I’m going to put together an exploratory committee, [and] probably do something official after Christmas,” Shabazz told Kendall.

If Shabazz joins the race, he would set up a Republican primary run against Pastor James Jackson, who announced his own candidacy in late November. He would also become the fourth Black candidate in the overall race.

Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Shabazz told IBJ in September that he was considering a run for mayor.

“I’d be less than honest if I said I wasn’t thinking about it,” Shabazz told IBJ, adding that his decision hinges on the opinion of his wife.

Aside from running IndyPolitics.org, Shabazz is a lawyer and talk show host. He also writes commentary and has frequently contributed to IBJ’s opinion publications.

On the radio Wednesday, he made clear that he isn’t officially launching a campaign.

“I don’t have to make a final decision until like Feb. 6, because I want to say that’s the filing deadline,” Shabazz said.

On the Democratic side, Mayor Joe Hogsett is running for reelection against State Rep. Robin Shackleford and newcomer Gregory Meriweather.

Republicans in the past haven’t been successful against Hogsett. In 2019, former Sen. Jim Merritt lost to the incumbent, who received 72% of the vote. Merritt is a friend and supporter of Shabazz.

The other candidates will have to surmount Hogsett’s $2.4 million war chest. Shackleford, who hasn’t had to file a mayoral campaign finance report, had about $8,300 in her legislative campaign account as of last month. The other candidates have not yet had to file campaign finance records.

Correction: The original version of this story incorrectly said Shabazz made his comments on the “Rob Kendall Show.”

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17 thoughts on “Abdul-Hakim Shabazz officially exploring mayoral run

    1. Bernard, don’t be selfish. Government services and operations are not offered as a la carte” options. While you may need less from the government, others need more. So your taxes pay for roads you may not drive on, police who may not protect your neighborhood, build schools your kids may not attend, provide health care you may not receive (but all of which may be needed by others in your city). Paying for it all is part of our civic responsibility.

    1. For a Republican to win in Indianapolis, they’d have to be a moderate. Most moderate Republicans are branded as RINO’s and loathed… there lies the issue. It would also require a Republican to fight their fellow Republicans at the Statehouse on matters like road funding or education.

      But Marion County Republicans just tried winning the prosecutors office on a “I’m not the other guy” and got smoked. What actual policy ideas are they going to offer?

    1. I listened a couple times, but I found I learned more just by listening to my garbage disposal run for three hours.

  1. He’s better than any other Indiana Republican I can think of. I’d possibly consider voting for him based on his platform if I still lived in Indy. It’ll be interesting to see what he runs on.

  2. I’d vote for Abdul. He’s intelligent, insightful, and he knows this city and its politics. He would be a good moderate to represent those of us who are not uber liberal or uber conservative.

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