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2026 General Election · Tuesday, November 3, 2026

Marion Indianapolis School Board

5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools's board are on this year's ballot, with 15 names on them, alongside a question for the same voters. Which seats appear on your ballot depends on where in the corporation you live.

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What a school board does

A school board is the elected or appointed governing body of a public school corporation, the legal unit that runs a local school district [1, 2]. The board hires and evaluates the superintendent, adopts policies, and approves the annual budget, while the superintendent and staff run schools day to day [3]. Most boards have five or seven members serving staggered four-year terms [3]. Starting in 2026, candidates may list a political party, run as independents, or list no affiliation on the ballot, and there is no primary for these seats [2, 4].

Term
4 years, with elections staggered so part of the board is chosen every two years [3]
Elected
At the November general election (November 3, 2026, or November 2028 for some seats); depending on the local organization plan, members represent the whole school corporation (at large) or a district within it, and some boards are wholly or partly appointed [2]
Ballot label
Each candidate chooses a party label, 'Independent', or no affiliation, shown next to the name; no primary and no straight-ticket voting for these races [2, 4]
Pay
Set by board resolution: an annual amount of no more than 10% of the lowest starting teacher salary in the school corporation, plus a capped per diem [5]
On the 2026 ballot
632 races in 276 school corporations; 1,035 candidates, 197 races contested [6]
What the law puts in this job (12)
  • Hires, evaluates and can dismiss the superintendent, and approves the hiring and firing of principals, teachers and other staff recommended by the superintendent [1, 7, 3].
  • Adopts the annual budget, appropriates funds and oversees school finances [1, 3].
  • Decides whether to ask voters to approve an operating referendum (an extra property tax levy); the board adopts the resolution and the Department of Local Government Finance reviews the ballot language for compliance with state law [8].
  • Approves contracts, buys and sells property, and decides on construction, repair and demolition of school buildings [1].
  • Bargains with the teachers' union over salary, wages and wage-related benefits such as health insurance and retirement; state law excludes teacher evaluation procedures from those bargaining subjects [9].
  • Writes and updates policies and rules for schools, often in a policy handbook, including the student handbook [1, 3].
  • Buys curricular materials, provides them to students without charge, and runs programs such as student transportation and school lunch [1].
  • Must adopt a process for parents and residents to ask that library material be removed as obscene or harmful to minors, review requests at public meetings and keep a public catalog of library materials [10].
  • Hears written appeals of student expulsions, unless the board has voted not to hear them [11].
  • Must take official action openly; Indiana's Open Door Law says public agencies' official action is to be conducted openly so the people may be fully informed [12, 13].
  • A school board member must have lived in the school corporation (and, for a district seat, the district) for at least one year before the election, and a teacher or other employee of the school corporation may not serve on its board [2].
  • What the board does not control: the State Board of Education adopts statewide academic standards [14], the General Assembly sets the state school funding formula in the state budget [15], and voucher (Choice Scholarship) eligibility is set by state law [16].

The job in full — what the Indiana Code puts in it, what it pays, and what to ask a candidate.

About Indianapolis Public Schools

  • Indianapolis Public Schools (IPS) serves central Indianapolis in Marion County. State data showed 19,774 students in 2025-26, down 6% from the prior year; Chalkbeat counted just under 31,000 across IPS's full portfolio including Innovation Network schools [24]. The superintendent is Aleesia Johnson [25].
  • The Board of School Commissioners has seven members: five elected from geographic districts and two at-large [26]. Districts 2, 3 and 5 cover the northern half of IPS (east, central and west respectively) and District 4 the southwest; any IPS voter may vote in the at-large race, and only district residents vote in district races [27].
  • Five seats are on the Nov. 3, 2026 ballot, each electing one member: the regularly scheduled District 3, District 5 and one at-large seat, plus Districts 2 and 4, which were filled by appointment after resignations [27]. The state list's "vote for 1" for the at-large race matches this [6].
  • Incumbents: District 2, Hasaan Rashid (appointed March 2026 after Gayle Cosby resigned); District 3, board president Hope Duke Star; District 4, Chris Bultman (appointed June 2026 after Allissa Impink resigned); District 5, vice president Nicole Carey; at-large, Angelia Lois Moore. All five are seeking election [26, 27]. The District 4 winner serves the rest of Impink's term through 2028 [28].
  • 2026 is the first election in which Indiana school board candidates may list a party; school board races are not part of straight-ticket voting, and candidates of the same party can run against each other [27].
  • Governance change: under a state law passed in early 2026, the mayor-appointed Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) took over buildings, transportation and the power to place a tax measure on the ballot for IPS and city charter schools; the elected board sets policy and goals, makes some financial decisions, and hires and oversees the superintendent [29, 25, 27].
  • Budget: WFYI reported in June 2026 a projected deficit of roughly $40 million and about $24 million already cut [26]. IPS expects about $20 million more in cuts even if the November referendum passes, and $40 million to $45 million in cuts, plus possible state intervention, if it fails [25].
  • Referendum: IPEC placed a four-year operating referendum of up to about 37 cents per $100 of assessed value on the Nov. 3 ballot, expected to raise about $95 million a year, split roughly half to IPS and half among about 60 participating charters; it would replace IPS's 2018 referendum, which expires this year [25]. The Indianapolis Education Association voted not to support it because IPS would still face cuts [25]. Chalkbeat noted the 2025 state property tax changes limit future district revenue [25].
  • Enrollment: IPS's 2025-26 decline was its largest since the pandemic, according to Chalkbeat's analysis of state data [24].
  • Ballot-access dispute (District 4): the county election board removed Lindsey Cornett in August over her Democratic affiliation; a Marion Superior Court judge restored her on Sept. 11 without a party label [30, 31].
  • Forums: Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI will host a candidate forum Oct. 19 at the Indianapolis Public Library Central Branch; they also sent all candidates survey questions for their Sept. 10 voter guide [27].
  • Points of difference in reviewed coverage include views on IPEC (Duarte and Cornett emphasize holding it accountable; Star cites guiding its implementation), charter-district relations (Bultman and Rashid stress collaboration across school types; Carey raised a conflict concern about Bultman's charter employer), and party labels (Redelman and Houston chose independent status) [26, 28, 32].

Marion Indianapolis Public School Board, District 2

2 candidates

Bryan Duarte

Democratic

Assistant professor at the Purdue University College of Education, running as a Democrat; he was runner-up when the board filled the vacant District 2 seat in March 2026 [26, 33].

Duarte's background

  • Assistant professor of educational leadership and policy at Purdue University; he has said his comments and interest in the seat do not reflect the university [29].
  • Former teacher with an educational research background [29].
  • First in his family born in the U.S. and to attend college [26].

Duarte's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said the biggest challenge facing IPS is that its fiscal future "falls at the mercy of the mayor-appointed IPEC," which he described as made up of people with a stake in schools not fully run by IPS [26].
  • Said IPS has been good stewards of taxpayer dollars, that state legislation has adversely affected the district, and that the district must ensure budget cuts do not worsen inequalities [29].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Told the board he would set aside differences between school types and focus on student outcomes [29].
  • Said: "I'm unwilling to compromise on meeting the needs of the people who have historically been left out of choice" [29].

Transparency & community input

  • Has advocated in public meetings for a fully elected school board and questioned the creation of the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation [29].

How Duarte would run the office

  • Said he is running to hold public schools accountable [26].

Duarte on the current officeholder

  • Has questioned the state law that created IPEC and moved powers away from the elected board [29, 33].

How Duarte got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. He said he filed as a Democrat because it most closely aligns with how he votes, though he does not believe school board races should be partisan [26].
  • Applied for the District 2 vacancy in March 2026; the board chose Hasaan Rashid 4-2, with Allissa Impink and Nicole Carey voting for Duarte [33].

Duarte's endorsements and funding

  • Chalkbeat reported that in the March appointment, Duarte was backed by traditional public school supporters; he cited his work with the IPS Parent Council [33].

What we could not find about Duarte

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Duarte

Hasaan Rashid

Democratic

Incumbent. Appointed to the District 2 seat in March 2026 after Gayle Cosby resigned; running as a Democrat [26, 33].

Rashid's background

  • Works for Utility Pipe Sales in the water and sewer industry [26].
  • Founder of the annual Brendon Park Live Music Festival, which offers scholarships to graduating seniors [29].
  • Ran for the District 2 seat in 2024 and lost to Gayle Cosby [26].

Rashid's positions

Budget & taxes

  • In his March 2026 board interview, said property tax caps lawmakers adopted in 2010 have limited district revenue, and: "Some things are going to have to be cut and we have to be clear and concise on what is best for the students" [29].

Academics

  • In the 2024 race he named a student literacy crisis as his top priority [26].

Enrollment & school choice

  • In 2024 said charter growth should be driven by quality, not expansion "for expansion's sake" [26].
  • Told the board in March 2026 he would set aside differences between school types and focus on student outcomes [29].

Rashid on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member (appointed March 2026) [33]. No statement from him assessing the board's recent record was found.

How Rashid got on the ballot

  • Appointed by the board on a 4-2 vote on March 26, 2026; Angelia Moore, Ashley Thomas, Deandra Thompson and Hope Duke Star voted for him [33].
  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6].

Rashid's endorsements and funding

  • In 2024 he was endorsed by Stand for Children Indiana and RISE Indy, according to Chalkbeat [29]. Chalkbeat reported he drew support from school choice advocates [33].

What we could not find about Rashid

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No 2026 endorsements were confirmed.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Rashid

Marion Indianapolis Public School Board, District 3

4 candidates

Loren Eugene Heger

Democratic

Attorney and IPS parent running as a Democrat [26].

Heger's background

  • Attorney who helped build the private-markets firm FNEX [26].
  • Parent whose family was in IPS; he said many of his daughter's fifth-grade classmates left the district in sixth grade after the Rebuilding Stronger changes [26].

Heger's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said the district needs to streamline operations to stay viable [26].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Said the district needs to grow enrollment to stay viable [26].

Heger on the current officeholder

  • Said his family was happy in IPS until the district's Rebuilding Stronger reorganization strategy [26].

How Heger got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. Asked why, he said: "Easy question, I'm a Democrat" [26].

What we could not find about Heger

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Heger

Derek Redelman

Independent

Education policy consultant and IPS graduate running as an independent [26].

Redelman's background

  • Runs his own consulting firm and is a senior fellow at the Sagamore Institute; has worked on education issues for three decades [26].
  • Has been described as the "architect of Indiana's original 2001 charter school law" [26].
  • IPS graduate [26].

Redelman's positions

Academics

  • Cited academic performance as one of the district's biggest issues [26].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Cited declining enrollment as one of the district's biggest issues [26].

How Redelman would run the office

  • Said he sees a significant opportunity to improve his home district [26].

How Redelman got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as an Independent [6]. He said he never thought partisan school board races were a good idea, so he is running as an independent [26].

What we could not find about Redelman

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Redelman

Hope Duke Star

Democratic

Incumbent and board president, on the board since January 2023; running as a Democrat [26].

Star's background

  • Children's services manager at Dayspring Center, an emergency shelter for homeless families [26].
  • Also sits on the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC) board [26].
  • IPS graduate and parent of an IPS graduate [26].

Star's positions

Transparency & community input

  • Said IPS needs "experienced, steady leadership" through a period of major change, pointing to her role guiding the district through implementation of the state law that created IPEC [26].

Star on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member and the board president [26]. In the June 2026 District 4 appointment, she voted for Chris Bultman, saying "a year from now, we will need some stability on the board," and said she expects all members to prioritize IPS even in gray areas [32].
  • Voted for Hasaan Rashid in the March 2026 District 2 appointment [33].

How Star got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. Her term in the regularly scheduled District 3 seat ends at the close of 2026 [26].

What we could not find about Star

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Star

Daqavise D. Winston

Democratic

Classroom teacher at MSD Warren Township, running as a Democrat [26].

Winston's background

  • Classroom teacher at MSD Warren Township [26].
  • Ran for the IPS District 2 seat in 2020 and lost to then-incumbent Venita Moore [26].

Winston's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said the district's biggest challenges are balancing long-term sustainability with improving student outcomes [26].

Transparency & community input

  • Said he is running to bring a student-centered perspective to the board and to strengthen public trust [26].

How Winston got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. He said he filed as a Democrat because the party's commitment to public education aligns with his values, adding that board service "should be focused on students, not politics" [26].

What we could not find about Winston

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • Very little coverage beyond WFYI's filing profile; no campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Winston

Marion Indianapolis Public School Board, District 4

2 candidates

Chris Bultman

Democratic

Incumbent. Appointed to the District 4 seat in June 2026 after Allissa Impink resigned; running as a Democrat [32, 26].

Bultman's background

  • Regional director of external affairs at Concept Schools, a nonprofit charter management organization that works with Indiana Math and Science Academies [28].
  • Previously a teacher and member of the culture team at Indiana Math and Science, working with students facing challenges outside school [28].

Bultman's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Named the district's fiscal health as an area needing improvement and called the referendum a key challenge [26, 28].

Academics

  • Named improving student outcomes as a priority [28].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Said Indianapolis needs strong collaboration across school types and that disagreement is OK if the shared focus is student outcomes; wants to make IPS a destination for families [28].

Bultman on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member (appointed June 2026) [32]. No statement from him assessing the board's record was found.
  • At his appointment, board member Nicole Carey said she was concerned about the professional conflict he could face because his employer aims to enroll students living within IPS boundaries; board president Hope Duke Star said she expects all members, including Bultman, to prioritize IPS [32]. Chalkbeat did not hear back from Bultman for its September story on the ballot dispute [31].

How Bultman got on the ballot

  • Appointed by the board 5-1 on June 25, 2026; Nicole Carey voted for Lindsey Cornett [32].
  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. A challenge to his Democratic affiliation was rejected by the Marion County Election Board, which found he had voted in Democratic primaries in 2020 and 2026 [30, 31].

What we could not find about Bultman

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Bultman

Lindsey Cornett

Nonpartisan

Writer/editor at Englewood Community Development Corporation, former teacher and IPS parent; on the ballot without a party label after a court order [28, 31].

Cornett's background

  • Writer and editor for congregation engagement at Englewood Community Development Corporation [28].
  • Former Florida public school teacher and parent of three IPS students [28].

Cornett's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said she would do her part to get the referendum passed and named the district's finances as one of its biggest challenges [28].

Academics

  • Said the focus should be on data-driven decisionmaking for student outcomes and making sure schools have resources before new ideas are launched [28].

Transparency & community input

  • Named holding IPEC accountable as one of the biggest challenges [28].
  • Said she would "offer stability, representation, and camaraderie with the residents of our district" during the transition [28].

Cornett on the current officeholder

  • Argued the election board applied the law unfairly and that neither she nor Bultman should be listed as a Democrat [31].

How Cornett got on the ballot

  • Filed as a Democrat; her paperwork was initially denied over a filing-deadline dispute, then accepted in late June [28, 32].
  • On Aug. 10, 2026, the Marion County Election Board removed her from the ballot after a challenge showed she had voted in only one Indiana Democratic primary [30]. She filed for judicial review and as a write-in candidate [34].
  • On Sept. 11, 2026, Marion Superior Court Judge John M.T. Chavis II ordered her restored to the ballot without a party affiliation, writing that the school board candidate law should have been applied and that state Election Division guidance is "advisory only" [31]. The state list shows her as Nonpartisan [6].

Cornett's endorsements and funding

  • Former District 4 commissioner Allissa Impink spoke in support of her during the June appointment interviews [28]. Board member Nicole Carey voted for her appointment [32].

What we could not find about Cornett

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.
  • Whether any party appealed the Sept. 11 court order was not found.

Sources for Cornett

Marion Indianapolis Public School Board, District 5

3 candidates

Nicole Carey

Democratic

Incumbent and board vice president, on the board since January 2023; running as a Democrat [26].

Carey's background

  • Founder and CEO of the research and consulting firm Convergence Global [26].

Carey's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said the biggest challenge is a state funding system that leans too heavily on local property taxpayers, and that she wants to build a financially sustainable district [26].

Academics

  • Said she is running so every Indianapolis child has access to a high-quality public education [26].

Carey on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member and vice president [26]. She voted for Bryan Duarte in the March 2026 District 2 appointment [33] and was the only member to vote for Lindsey Cornett in June, citing concern about the professional conflict Chris Bultman could face as a charter-organization employee [32].

How Carey got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. She said the party's commitment to public education reflects her vision [26]. Her term in the regularly scheduled District 5 seat ends at the close of 2026 [26].

What we could not find about Carey

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Carey

Yuri Smith, Sr.

Democratic

IPS graduate and education nonprofit founder running as a Democrat [26].

Smith's background

  • Runs the nonprofit Y2G Indy and Indy's Inner City Chess Club and works with Global Prep Academy [26].
  • Has worked at Goodwill's Indianapolis Metropolitan High School and the closed Kindezi Academy [26].
  • IPS graduate [26].

Smith's positions

Transparency & community input

  • Said he is running to bring more families and community members "to the table" in district decisions [26].

How Smith got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]; he said he has been one his whole life [26].

What we could not find about Smith

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • News coverage lists him as "Yuri Smith Sr."; the state list uses "Yuri Smith, Sr."
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Smith

Pearl Taylor

Democratic

Business owner running as a Democrat; WFYI could not reach her for comment [26].

Taylor's background

  • Owns Pearl's Sewtique, a clothing business, according to her candidate filings [26].

How Taylor got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6].

What we could not find about Taylor

  • No statements of position were found; WFYI could not immediately reach her for its June profile.
  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Taylor

Marion Indianapolis Public School Board, At Large

4 candidates

Heather Houston

Independent

Instructional coach at an IPS Innovation Network school and former IPS employee, running as an independent [26].

Houston's background

  • Instructional coach with a special education license at Liberty Grove Schools at Elder Diggs 42, an Innovation Network school [26].
  • Previously worked for IPS [26].

Houston's positions

Transparency & community input

  • Said she is running to rebuild trust between schools, families and the community and keep decisions centered on students [26].

How Houston got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as an Independent [6]. She said she filed as an independent because she wants the campaign focused on students and educators and above party politics [26].

What we could not find about Houston

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Houston

Angelia Lois Moore

Democratic

Incumbent at-large commissioner, on the board since January 2023; running as a Democrat [26].

Moore's background

  • Finance manager for the City of Indianapolis in the Office of Public Health and Safety, working on financial and grant management [26].
  • Former IPS student, employee and parent; four of her children attended IPS [26].

Moore's positions

Transparency & community input

  • In her 2022 WFYI/Chalkbeat survey, said she believes "education belongs to the community" and that every student can succeed when given a real chance [26].

Moore on the current officeholder

  • Is a current board member [26]. Voted for Hasaan Rashid in the March 2026 District 2 appointment [33] and for Chris Bultman in the June District 4 appointment [32].

How Moore got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]. Her term in the regularly scheduled at-large seat ends at the close of 2026 [26].

What we could not find about Moore

  • No 2026-specific policy statements were found; the cited views are from 2022.
  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Moore

Alexander S. Nyirendah

Democratic

Vice chair of the Indiana Democratic Party and director of the Marion County Board of Voter Registration, running as a Democrat [26].

Nyirendah's background

  • Vice chairman of the Indiana Democratic Party and director of the Marion County Board of Voter Registration [26].
  • Has worked for RISE Indy, Eleven Fifty Academy and Mayor Joe Hogsett's 2019 campaign, according to his LinkedIn profile as reported by WFYI [26].

How Nyirendah got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6].

What we could not find about Nyirendah

  • No statements of position were found in reviewed coverage.
  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Nyirendah

Sacha Nicole Sharp

Democratic

Assistant professor of medicine at the IU School of Medicine and IPS parent, running as a Democrat [26].

Sharp's background

  • Assistant professor of medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine [26].
  • Parent of three IPS students [26].

Sharp's positions

Budget & taxes

  • Said she is running to support a financially sustainable IPS that produces high-achieving students, and named the financial transition under IPEC as a major issue [26].

Enrollment & school choice

  • Named corporate interests in city education as a major issue [26].

How Sharp got on the ballot

  • Listed on the state candidate list as a Democrat [6]; she said she has always identified and voted that way [26].

What we could not find about Sharp

  • No campaign finance reports (Marion County Election Board filings) were reviewed; fundraising is unknown.
  • Individual answers to the Chalkbeat/WFYI survey for the Sept. 10 voter guide could not be reviewed for this profile; positions here come from news interviews.
  • No campaign website was found.
  • The Chalkbeat/WFYI candidate forum is scheduled for Oct. 19, after this review.

Sources for Sharp

On the same ballot

  • IPS and charter schools operating referendum (IPEC)

    School referendum · Indianapolis Public Education Corporation (IPEC), on behalf of Indianapolis Public Schools and participating charter schools

    Up to $0.372 per $100 and $95 million a year for 4 years for IPS and participating charter schools, as the 2018 IPS levy ($0.196) ends. Ballot: +$221 a year for a $150,000 home.

Forums and debates

Public events where you can see the candidates, from the hosts' own announcements. Check the host's page for changes before you go.

  • Monday, October 19, 2026, 6 p.m. · Candidate forum

    IPS school board candidate forum · hosted by Chalkbeat Indiana and WFYI

    Indianapolis Public Library, Central Library, Indianapolis

    Candidates invited or confirmed: Sacha Nicole Sharp, Heather Houston, Alexander S. Nyirendah, Angelia Lois Moore, Bryan Duarte, Hasaan Rashid, Lindsey Cornett, Daqavise D. Winston, Loren Eugene Heger, Hope Duke Star, Derek Redelman

    Details (WFYI community calendar)

Key points

  • Also on this ballot for the same district: IPS and charter schools operating referendum (IPEC). Up to $0.372 per $100 and $95 million a year for 4 years for IPS and participating charter schools, as the 2018 IPS levy ($0.196) ends. Ballot: +$221 a year for a $150,000 home. (Indiana DLGF (filed by IPEC))
  • Budget: WFYI reported in June 2026 a projected deficit of roughly $40 million and about $24 million already cut. (WFYI)
  • Enrollment: IPS's 2025-26 decline was its largest since the pandemic, according to Chalkbeat's analysis of state data. (Chalkbeat Indiana)

Sources

Researched Saturday, October 10, 2026

  1. Indiana Code 20-26-5-4: Specific powers of governing body (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  2. 2026 Indiana Candidate Guide (School Board Offices) (Indiana Election Division)
  3. 800 school board seats are up for election in Indiana (Chalkbeat Indiana / WFYI)
  4. Why there are no education elections on your primary ballot (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  5. Indiana Code 20-26-4-7: Compensation of governing body members (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  6. 2026 General Election Candidate List (Indiana Election Division)
  7. Indiana Code 20-26-5-4.5: Selection and discharge of employees (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  8. School Tax Levy Referendum (Indiana Department of Local Government Finance)
  9. Indiana Code 20-29-6-4: Subjects of collective bargaining (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  10. Obscene, or just objectionable? Here's how Indiana schools are tackling library book complaints (Arnolt Center for Investigative Journalism / Indiana Capital Chronicle)
  11. Indiana Code 20-33-8-19: Expulsion appeals (FindLaw (Indiana Code))
  12. Indiana Code 5-14-1.5-1: Open Door Law policy (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  13. What We Do (Indiana Public Access Counselor)
  14. Indiana Code 20-31-3-1: State academic standards (FindLaw (Indiana Code, current as of 2026-01-01))
  15. Indiana K-12 State Tuition Support Annual Report FY2023 (Indiana Department of Education)
  16. Indiana lawmakers expand voucher eligibility, increase school funding in budget (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  17. IPS experiences biggest enrollment loss since pandemic, state records show (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  18. 2026 IPS referendum guide: costs, tax impact, and what's at stake for district and charter schools (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  19. Here are the 15 candidates running for the Indianapolis Public Schools Board in 2026 (WFYI)
  20. Voter guide 2026: Meet the 15 candidates vying for 5 seats on the Indianapolis Public Schools board (Chalkbeat Indiana / WFYI)
  21. IPS school board interviews 2 applicants for District 4 vacancy (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  22. IPS school board interviews applicants for vacant District 2 seat (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  23. Marion County Election Board removes Lindsey Cornett from IPS school board ballot after challenge (WFYI)
  24. Court order: Lindsey Cornett is back on the ballot for IPS school board (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  25. Indianapolis Public Schools board taps Chris Bultman to represent District 4 (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  26. Indianapolis Public Schools board taps Hasaan Rashid to fill vacant seat (Chalkbeat Indiana)
  27. After being removed from the ballot, Lindsey Cornett is still running for IPS school board (WFYI)
What's included
the U.S. House, statewide offices, every Indiana House and Senate district on the ballot, Indiana's statewide public questions and judicial retention questions, and county, township, city, town and school board races from the Indiana Election Division's candidate list.
Everything else
Local races (county, city, school board, judges) and anything else on your ballot are on your official sample ballot: IndianaVoters.in.gov.
Candidate lists
As of Sunday, October 18, 2026.
At the polls
Indiana law lets you bring a list of candidates and public questions into the polling place, including one stored on your phone, as long as you don't electioneer. IC 3-11-8-18.5

This is not an official ballot. Confirm your registration, polling place and ballot with your election office through vote.gov.