2003 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election

The 2003 South Bend, Indiana mayoral election was held on November 4, 2003. Incumbent mayor Steve Luecke was reelected to a second full-term (and third overall term).

2003 South Bend mayoral election

November 4, 2003

Nominee Steve Luecke Thomas R. Schmidt Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 10,598 4,188 Percentage 71.68% 28.32%

Mayor before election Steve Luecke Democratic Elected Mayor Steve Luecke Democratic

Nominations

Democratic primary

Incumbent mayor Steve Luecke was unchallenged in the Democratic primary.[1] Originally attempting to challenge Leucke for the nomination was 1995 Republican mayoral nominee (and failed 1987 South Bend Republican mayoral primary candidate) Michael C. "Mike" Waite.[2]

Democratic primary results[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)	7,480	100
Total votes			7,480	100

Republican primary

After a long search to try and find a candidate, hours before the deadline for a candidate to register, St. Joseph County Republican chairman Matt Lentsch announced Thomas Schmidt as a candidate/presumptive nominee.[2] Thomas R. Schmidt was unchallenged in the Republican primary.[1]

Republican primary results[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Thomas R. Schmidt	1,497	100
Total votes			1,497	100

General election

Luecke was heavily favored to win the election.[4]

2003 wound up being 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.[5] The Democratic Party also won control of the mayoralties in twenty of the state's thirty cities with populations above 25,000.[5] Additionally, in 2003, Democrats won more than 56% of partisan mayoral races in Indiana.[6]

During the general election, St. Joseph County, where South Bend is located, saw voter turnout of 15% in its various elections.[7]

General election results[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Stephen J. Luecke (incumbent)	10,598	71.68
	Republican	Thomas R. Schmidt	4,188	28.32
Total votes			14,786	100

References

1. "Gary, E. Chicago mayors survive primary". The Laporte County Herald Argus. Associated Press. May 7, 2003. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
2. "Indiana 2003 Racing Form Indiana 2003 Mayoral Races" (PDF). The Howey Political Report. 9 (26). February 27, 2003. Retrieved September 10, 2019.
3. "Historical Election Results". Indiana.gov Voter Portal. Retrieved September 7, 2019.
4. "Area mayoral races mirror each other again". KPC Media Group. KPC News. Associated Press. Retrieved September 24, 2019.
5. Howey, Brian A. (November 5, 2003). "Democrats control top 7 Hoosier cities" (PDF). The Howey Political Report. 10 (14). Retrieved December 11, 2019.
6. Marschall, Melissa; Lappie, John (May 2016). "Mayoral Elections in Indiana 2003–2015" (PDF). Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research. Retrieved May 5, 2020.
7. "General Election Turnout and Registration" (PDF). www.in.gov. Indiana Secretary of State. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2008.