1963 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election
The 1963 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election was held on November 5, 1963.
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Incumbent Frank J. Bruggner, who had reluctantly assumed the office after Edward F. Voorde's death in an automobile accident, did not seek reelection to the office.[1]
This is the last time that a non-incumbent Republican won a South Bend mayoral election.[2]
Primaries
Democratic primary
Two candidates faced each other in the Democratic primary. Paul Krueper was favored by voters on the East Side and had the support of the Democratic establishment.[1] However, Eugene Pajakowki was favored by voters on the West Side, which had a significant Polish-American vote at the time.[1]
The South Bend Tribune's political writer at the time, James Carroll, described the primary the two men waged as being, "one of the meanest in Democratic history".[1]
Krueper prevailed in the primary,[1] but the ugliness of the primary had split the party.[2]
Republican primary
City Judge Lloyd M. Allen won a large victory in the Republican primary, which saw sizable turnout.[2]
General election
While a Democratic city, at the time, South Bend was more competitive in its mayoral elections than it is today.[1] A Republican had last won a mayoral election in 1951, and one had come close in the narrow 1955 election (losing a close race to Edward F. Voorde).[1]
The election took place in the direct aftermath of the announcement that Studebaker, a major South Bend employer, would be closing its operations in the city.[1]
Allen won a landslide victory.[1] Allen's victory has been attributed to the split in the Democratic party following its fractious primary.[2]
References
- Colwell, Jack (July 12, 2015). "Colwell: Lloyd Allen was South Bend's monument in asphalt". South Bend Tribune. Retrieved September 23, 2019.
- "2007 Mayoral" (PDF). Howey Political Report. 14 (7). September 27, 2007. Retrieved September 22, 2019.