Poll Showed Mears Leads Foust in Prosecutor Race

A new survey found Ryan Mears leads Philip Foust in the race for Marion County prosecutor.

Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Elections

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a neoclassical courthouse facade in navy and cream, symbolizing institutional legal authority. — Incumbent Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears leads Republican challenger Philip Foust 37% to 28% in a new poll commissioned by the county party. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Live Poll

In local prosecutor elections, should voters prioritize a candidate's party affiliation or their professional experience?

The Marion County Republican Party commissioned a poll showing incumbent Ryan Mears leads challenger Philip Foust. Survey results indicate 37% of registered voters support Mears, while 28% support Foust and 35% remain undecided.

Why it matters

The findings reflect voter sentiment on local public safety, a critical issue for residents of Indianapolis. With significant campaign fundraising disparities, the results highlight the ongoing electoral landscape in the county.

A poll of 1,363 registered voters shows 37% support for Ryan Mears and 28% for Philip Foust, while 35% are undecided. Just 34% of voters believe Indianapolis is moving in the right direction regarding public safety.

The players

Ryan Mears

He is the incumbent Marion County prosecutor who previously won the 2022 election.

Philip Foust

He is a candidate for the office of Marion County prosecutor.

Marion County Republican Party

This is the political organization that commissioned the recent public opinion poll.

Opinion Diagnostics

This is the research firm tasked with conducting the survey of registered voters.

Cyndi Carrasco

She is a political figure who ran against Ryan Mears in the 2022 prosecutor election.

The details

Pollsters provided background information on Philip Foust to participants, which resulted in a split between the candidates. Ryan Mears maintains a significant fundraising advantage with $387,000 in his campaign account compared to $36,000 for Foust.

2021: Indianapolis experienced a record year of homicides.
2022: Ryan Mears won the prosecutor election against Cyndi Carrasco.
April 15, 2026: Campaign finance reports were filed.
September 24, 2026: Poll results were published.
2027: Potential mayoral election in which Mears may run.

Political Context

This election follows the political patterns set by the 2022 prosecutor election between Ryan Mears and Cyndi Carrasco. Opponents often emphasize the city's 2021 homicide record as a primary critique of current officeholders.

Voters in Marion County face a choice that could shift the direction of public safety enforcement and prosecution policies in Indianapolis. The outcome will directly impact local judicial priorities and the administrative focus of the county prosecutor's office.

The takeaway

With 35% of voters still undecided, the final weeks of the campaign remain highly fluid for both candidates. Residents should monitor upcoming debates to see if the fundraising gap impacts the reach of either campaign's message.