Hudnut defeated Democratic former city-county councilman Paul Cantwell in what was reported to have been the greatest margin of defeat for a Democratic candidate in an Indianapolis mayoral election in 150 years.

[2] Cantwell had resigned his City-County Council seat to focus on his campaign.

[2] Ahead of the election season, Hudnut had demonstrated a strong advantage in polls.

[3] Top prospective Democratic candidates declined to run.

Paul Cantwell argued that the charges were political, and were retribution for his investigations of police corruption.