Journalist Abdul-Hakim Shabazz (above) announced Thursday that he will be running in the May 3 Republican mayoral primary in Indianapolis.
Shabazz said that it was after forming an exploratory committee in December and hearing from hundreds of residents in every township that he decided to run.
“I have been writing and covering Indianapolis and Marion County government since 2004. In that time, I’ve seen good and poor leadership and its impact on our city. Rather than just report or provide commentary on the record levels of crime and crumbling infrastructure, I’ve decided to offer myself as a part of the solution,” Shabazz said in a press release.
Shabazz has lived in Indianapolis for almost 20 years. A licensed attorney, he is editor and publisher of Indy Politics, a website covering state and local politics.
On Feb. 7, 2022 Shabazz filed a federal lawsuit against Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita after a spokesperson for Rokita denied Shabazz entry into a press conference, saying he was not “credentialed media.” The two reached an agreement before the suit went to trial.
Shabazz has written columns for the Indianapolis Business Journal, The Indianapolis Star and The Statehouse File. He previously hosted a show on Newstalk 1430 AM WXNT, which focused on local, state and national issues. Shabazz has provided political analysis and commentary for WRTV-TV in Indianapolis and is a regular panelist on Inside Indiana Business.
Shabazz holds an M.A. in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield and a law degree from St. Louis University. He is also an attorney at the law firm of Lewis and Wilkins in Indianapolis.
“I look forward to sharing my ideas with the voters on a tough yet smart approach to addressing crime, as well my plans to come up with creative solutions to address the city’s road funding issues and restoring public trust in local government,” Shabazz said.
Shabazz intends to run as a Republican.This would set up a “three-way primary” election between himself, pastor James Jackson, and John Couch.
Current Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett plans to run for a third term in office. However, Hogsett isn’t the only Democrat running. He would be up against at least five other Democrats for the primary election, including Rep. Robin Shackleford, D-Indianapolis.
Xain Ballenger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, a news website powered by Franklin College journalism students.
