Andre Carson

Andre Carson, a Democrat, has represented the 10th Congressional District of Indiana in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2008. He is the grandson of the late Rep. Julia Carson, and won her former seat in a special election on March 11, 2008.

Iraq war
Carson opposes the war in Iraq and wants to withdraw the troops. On his campaign Web site, he says, "I support an immediate change to a responsible redeployment plan that will end the war in Iraq and bring our brave men and women home with honor."

Health care
Carson supports Medicare and says he will fight any cuts to the program. In addition, he says on his campaign Web site that he aims to pass "a Medicare Part D prescription drug plan that really works -- providing quality, affordable prescription drugs to our seniors, not one that benefits the big drug companies and leaves too many seniors confused, limited and without coverage."

He also supports expanding health care coverage for children and strengthening Medicaid. He says he supports "health care reform that provides access to quality, affordable health care for all Americans."

Immigration
Carson opposes amnesty for illegal immigrants, and believes "that consideration of how undocumented immigrants can earn the opportunity to become citizens must include paying a fine, paying all back taxes, and going to the back of line so they do not have an advantage over those who have entered this country legally."

Energy
Carson supports alternative energy programs, especially those based on Indiana crops such as soy and corn.

Education
Carson supports reforming No Child Left Behind "with more funding and increased flexibility."

Bio
Carson was born October 16, 1974, in Indianapolis, Ind. He graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, Ind, and he has a B.A., Concordia University-Wisconsin and an M.B.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University. He served on the Indianapolis/Marion City-County Council from 2007 to 2008. He is the grandson of the late Rep. Julia Carson, and won her former seat in a special election on March 11, 2008. He is the second Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress, after Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn). Carson and his wife, Mariama, have a daughter.

2008 elections
In March 2008, Carson won a special election to fill the 7th Congressional District seat, which was vacated when Rep. Julia Carson (D-Ind.) died of lung cancer in December, 2007. On May 6, 2008 Carson defeated 7 challengers in the Democratic primary. He was going to face Republican Jon Elrod in the November election, but in June, Elrod withdrew from the race. Carson defeated Republican Gabrielle Campo in November; he received 65 percent of the vote, while she received 35 percent.

Money in Politics
cid=N00029513&cycle=2008

Committees in the 110th Congress (2007-2008)
Carson will be assigned committees when he is sworn into Congress.

External resources

 * 2008 Race Tracker page on Indiana’s 7th Congressional District
 * Official Carson for Congress website