Mayoral elections in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Wayne Township Trustee Thomas Essex won the Democratic primary with 4,056 votes.[2]

Some Republicans speculated that Helmke, who had ties to the Clinton administration, might have been endangered in his primary. However, contrarily, he handily won his primary with 75% of the vote (7,717 votes).[2]

Libertarians nominated William Kempf.

The race was projected by Howey Political Report to be "safe Republican", with Helmke anticipated to be easily reelected.[3][4]

Running for the Democratic nomination was Graham Richard, Agnes Hopkins, and David Roach.[7]

Running for the Republican nomination was Linda Buskirk and Allen County Sheriff Joe Squadrito.[7] While he had been seen as a frontrunner,[7] Squadrito ultimately lost the primary to Buskirk.

Independent candidates Sherri Emerson and William B. Dinkins also ran.

Primary elections were held May 8.[13]

During its primaries, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 11.9%.[13]

The election was projected as a "tossup".[14] Despite the race having been projected to be close, Richard won a sizable victory over Buskirk.[15]

During the general election, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 30.63%.[12]

2003 was a good year for Democrats in Indiana's mayoral elections, with the party winning control of the mayoralties of all of the state's top seven most populous cities for the first time since 1959.[15] The Democratic Party also won control of the mayoralties in twenty of the state's thirty cities with populations above 25,000.[15] Additionally, in 2003, Democrats won more than 56% of partisan mayoral races in Indiana.[16]

During the general election, Allen County, where Fort Wayne is located, saw voter turnout of 25% in its various elections.[17]

Primary elections were held May 8.[19]

In August, Kelty was indicted over perjury and campaign finance charges. While he denied wrongdoing, this story dominated the campaign.[20]

During the general election, Allen County, where Fort Wayne is located, saw voter turnout of 21% in its various elections.[21]

In October 2008, Kelty pleaded guilty to several of the campaign finance charges brought against him.[22]

Henry would go on to be reelected in 2011, 2015, and 2019.

Primary elections were held May 3.[24]

During the primary elections, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 12.78%.[24]

During the general election, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 26.21%.[23]

Primary elections were held May 5.[26]

During the primary elections, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 9.82%.[26]

During the general election, the voter turnout in Allen County, in which Fort Wayne is located, was 22.49%.[25]

Primary elections were held May 7.[27]

The election was not close with Henry winning easily. Earlier in the campaign Henry was thought to be vulnerable, but the race ended up not being close. In his victory speech, Henry announced that it would be his last term as mayor, though he later decided to run for a fifth term against businessman Tim Didier for 2023. He was sworn in for his fourth term on January 1, 2020. His fourth term will expire on January 1, 2024.