Classic Change vs. More of the Same Campaign in Marion County Clerk Battle

Sweeney-Bell

Sad to say, but one thing's for sure in the Marion County Clerk's race. Unfortunately, this will be Bob Kern's last ride as a candidate on the ballot. Kern passed away on April 4, 2026, from complications of a stroke. His presence on the ballot has been a given over the past 25+ years. It's been the Indy 500 in May, and Bob Kern on a Primary ballot.

In this race, there's no doubt that Kern will get at least a few votes for Clerk, but the two other candidates in the race will be fighting it out to become the favorite in November to win the job.

Incumbent Clerk Kate Sweeney-Bell was elected to the office four years ago in 2022. While she's put together a record to run on, it doesn't take a campaign expert to see that she is a little concerned and is not taking her opposition lightly. Sweeney-Bell is pulling out all of her rowdy Democratic friends who are recording endorsements for social media. The former Marion County Party Chair has that Rolodex, and she's using it.  She's been endorsed by Ed Delaney, Renee Pack, Carey Hamilton, Mitch Gore, Kristen Jones and Jeb Bardon. 

Attorney Karla Lopez-Owens is running against Sweeney-Bell (and Kern) for the Democratic nomination. Lopez-Owens, a past candidate in a crowded field for State Senate and a City-County Council caucus, is an immigrant and is talking about that part of her bio in this campaign. "Becoming a citizen and voting are privileges I don’t take for granted," Owens-Lopez says on Facebook. "I am prepared to meet this moment with courage and honesty. Together, we can rebuild trust in local government through transparency and accountability. Through that work, we can start changing the outcome of our circumstances and create new possibilities for ourselves."

Lopez-Owens

It's change vs. more of the same here. Sweeney-Bell is telling voters, in effect, that she's been there, done that and has all the t-shirts. Her campaign literature says, "As Marion County Clerk, Kate Sweeney-Bell has been on the frontlines defending free and fair elections, standing up to partisan redistricting attempts and fighting to protect access to the ballot...Kate is the experienced, steady, trusted leader who will keep Marion County Elections secure and ensure every voice is heard."

Sweeney-Bell remains the favorite, but that doesn't mean that Lopez-Owens can't make this interesting on Election Night. She has received endorsements from PACs like the Speedway Democrats and candidates like Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. Mears co-sponsored a fundraiser for Lopez-Owens. 

The winner of the Democratic Primary will almost certainly win election in November...even if it is Bob Kern. The Republican candidate, Robbin Stewart, sure is a fun Google.

I think Sweeney-Bell probably has the inside track. That said, Sweeney-Bell, as I said earlier, is a former Marion County Democratic Party Chair. You don't become a Party Chair without ticking a few people off. Sweeney-Bell could lose this if enough people find Lopez-Owens as someone who could credibly replace her. At this stage, I don't think that's going to be enough. In the end, it will be those strong party ties that I think carry the day for Sweeney-Bell. That's not to say that Lopez-Owens is a bad candidate. On the contrary, she's very good, and I think she will someday win a race for an elected office.