Stand for Children Indiana’s PAC contributed more than $117,000, according to pre-election campaign finance reports. RISE Indy gave $24,200, and the Indiana Political Action Committee for Education, the political arm of the state teachers union, contributed $15,500.

Candidates collectively raised more than $257,000 during the reporting period, April 11 through Oct. 9. About 22% came from individual donors. The totals include both cash and in-kind support, such as staff time, advertising and campaign services.

The election will decide five seats and determine the majority of the seven-member board. Its authority is being reshaped by a new state law that gives the Indianapolis Public Education Corporation control over school buildings, transportation and the ability to raise taxes. The board will continue to oversee academics and the superintendent, while following some directives from IPEC, which will establish an accountability system.

The shift in power has not made the election less important to the groups backing candidates. Indianapolis Education Association Vice President Monica Shellhamer said the union wants to change the board’s majority and has supported candidates who favor traditional public schools. The union has also opposed transferring district authority to IPEC.

Stand for Children Indiana has pushed for expanding high-performing charter schools within the IPS district. Its executive director, Justin Ohlemiller, said the election matters for public schools across the district. The organization has also backed a four-year, $95 million annual property-tax referendum for IPS and charter schools. That campaign had raised about $107,000, almost all from Stand for Children’s national PAC.

Under the new state law, referendum revenue must be distributed proportionally to charter schools. Ohlemiller said the funding arrangement reflects parent advocates’ desire to share resources among public schools. RISE Indy said it is supporting the referendum with canvassing, advertising and social media outreach.

Among individual candidates, at-large incumbent Angelia Moore reported the most fundraising, $52,973, nearly all of it from Stand for Children. Most was in-kind campaign support, including staffing, mailers, advertising and text outreach; the group also gave her $3,000 in cash. At-large candidate Sacha Sharp, endorsed by the teachers union, raised about $22,000, more than half from individuals. She received a $6,000 contribution from I-PACE.

District 2 incumbent Hasaan Rashid reported $44,540, including $20,500 in in-kind support from RISE Indy for digital advertising and voter-database access. His opponent, Bryan Duarte, reported $10,820, including $3,000 from the teachers union PAC.

In District 3, Derek Redelman reported $42,436, most of it in-kind support from Stand for digital advertising, mailers, texting and staff. Incumbent Hope Duke Star reported no fundraising. Daqavise Winston reported $4,570, and Loren Heger reported $2,711.

District 4 incumbent Chris Bultman reported nearly $21,000, largely in-kind get-out-the-vote support from Stand. His opponent, Lindsey Cornett, reported about $17,550, most from individual donors. In District 5, Yuri Smith Sr. reported about $19,600, mostly from Stand, while incumbent Nicole Carey reported $15,825, including $3,000 from the teachers union PAC.

RISE Indy said its support for candidates included training on voter outreach tools and was offered to people who participated in its programs and shared its commitment to public-school access. The group gave Rashid the largest amount, and smaller contributions to six other candidates.

The 2026 contest is the first in which IPS school board candidates are running in partisan races, though no candidate received backing from a political party or its PAC. All candidates filed as Democrats except independents Heather Houston and Derek Redelman; Lindsey Cornett is unaffiliated. Candidates who raise or spend more than $500 must file campaign finance reports. The final reports covering activity through the end of 2026 are due Jan. 20, 2027.