It is well known that a primary clause of emotion often means the subordinate clause will be in the subjunctive mood in Romance languages. However, there is a big exception with “espérer que.” That is followed by an indicative unless it is used negatively or interrogatively.

I have a thought as to why this could be. Perhaps the thinking is that hope in French suggests a higher likelihood than a mere wish. It may in other words be closer to “thinking that” or “believing that.” Perhaps on that basis, that is why the negative and interrogative versions behave like “penser que” and “croire que” used in these forms. They then use the subjunctive instead.