André Carson Bio
André Darryl Carson (born October 16, 1974) is an American politician who has represented Indiana’s 7th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, his district covers the northern four-fifths of Indianapolis, including Downtown Indianapolis. Carson first won his seat in a 2008 special election held after the death of his grandmother, former U.S. Representative Julia Carson.
He is the second Muslim ever elected to the U.S. Congress, following Keith Ellison of Minnesota. After Representative Pete Visclosky retired in 2021, André Carson became the dean of Indiana’s congressional delegation. Over more than fifteen years in office, he has built a record on economic recovery, financial regulation, public safety, and international affairs.
Early Life and Background
André Darryl Carson was born and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana, on October 16, 1974. He grew up in a challenging neighborhood, an experience he has said shaped his views on education, public safety, and economic opportunity. From a young age, his interest in public service was influenced by his grandmother, Julia Carson, who represented Indiana’s 7th district in Congress from 1997 until her death in 2007.
Carson attended Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis, where he completed his secondary education. He then earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice and management from Concordia University Wisconsin in 2003. He later returned to Indiana and completed a Master of Science degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana, in 2005. These studies gave him a foundation in law enforcement, management, and public policy that would later shape his legislative work.
Path to US Politics
Before entering elected office, André Carson built a professional career in compliance, security, and marketing. From 1996 to 2005, he served as a compliance officer for the Indiana State Excise Police, the law enforcement arm of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. He then worked in the anti-terrorism division of Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security, and later as a marketing specialist for Cripe Architects and Engineers in Indianapolis. He is the only member of Congress to have served in a Department of Homeland Security Fusion Center.
Carson first stepped into elected politics in 2007, when he won a special caucus of the Marion County Democratic Party to become the City-County Councilor for the 15th Council district of Indianapolis–Marion County. He had also served as a Democratic Party Committeeperson in Indianapolis. His time on the council was brief but set the stage for a rapid rise, as his grandmother’s death a few months later opened the door to a congressional seat.
André Carson Career
Early Career (2007–2008)
André Carson began his elected career in 2007 on the Indianapolis City-County Council after winning a Democratic Party special caucus. He represented the 15th Council district until 2008, giving him early experience in local government and constituent service. His council work focused on neighborhood issues and connected him to the Marion County Democratic Party network that would soon back his congressional bid.
When Julia Carson died of lung cancer in December 2007, the seat for Indiana’s 7th congressional district became vacant. In 2008, André Carson won the nominating caucus of the Marion County Democratic Party and secured the Democratic nomination for the special election. He earned endorsements from Senator Evan Bayh, then-Senator Barack Obama, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, among others. On March 11, 2008, he defeated Republican State Representative Jon Elrod and Libertarian Sean Shepard, capturing 53 percent of the vote and beginning his career in Congress.
Congressional Elections and Early Terms (2008–2014)
After his special election win, André Carson was reelected to his first full term in November 2008 with 65 percent of the vote, earning praise from The Indianapolis Star for his hard work and positive approach. In 2010, he faced perennial Republican candidate Marvin Scott, who raised concerns about Carson’s Muslim faith during the campaign; Carson won decisively. He continued to grow his support in subsequent cycles, defeating Republican Carlos May in 2012 and Catherine Ping in 2014.
During his early terms, Carson focused on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a $787 billion stimulus package that brought federal investment to Indianapolis for police hiring, teaching jobs, and green technology. He served on the House Committee on Financial Services, co-sponsored the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, and introduced bills to expand financial literacy and protect consumers. He also backed the Affordable Health Care for America Act in 2009 and supported foreclosure prevention programs in Indianapolis.
Mid-Career and Committee Work (2015–2020)
Throughout the mid-2010s, André Carson continued to win reelection, defeating Republicans Wayne Harmon, Susan Marie Smith, and Angela Grabovsky in successive cycles. He remained a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, working on housing, consumer protection, and small business issues. He also engaged in foreign policy debates, voting against a 2019 House resolution condemning the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement.
In December 2019, Carson voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump. He was one of only two Indiana House members to do so, alongside Representative Pete Visclosky. His willingness to take high-profile votes on impeachment and Middle East policy helped establish his profile as a progressive voice within the Indiana Democratic delegation.
Senior Leadership Era (2021–Present)
When Representative Pete Visclosky retired in 2021, André Carson became the dean of Indiana’s congressional delegation, the longest-serving member of the state’s House contingent. In that role, he has taken on additional responsibility in representing Indiana’s interests in Washington. He won reelection in 2022 against Republican John Schmitz, continuing his unbroken streak of victories in the 7th district.
In recent years, Carson has continued to advocate for consumer protection, affordable housing, and humanitarian foreign policy. In February 2025, he introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act to prevent unauthorized access to the Department of the Treasury’s payment system, and in March 2025 he introduced a bill to restore funding to UNRWA. As of August 2025, he has received an “A” grade from the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
Notable Events and Milestones
Among André Carson’s most notable career moments is his 2008 special election win, which made him the second Muslim elected to Congress. He was the first member of Indiana’s congressional delegation to endorse Barack Obama for president in 2008. He has also introduced landmark bills such as the Jeremy Warriner Consumer Protection Act, the Young Adults Financial Literacy Act, and the Justice For Shireen Act, while joining a small group of lawmakers to vote against funding Israel’s Iron Dome in 2021.
André Carson Career Wins
André Carson has never lost a congressional election since winning the 2008 special election. He has secured nine full-term victories in Indiana’s 7th district and a special election win, all as the Democratic nominee. His sustained success reflects strong support in the Indianapolis-area district, particularly among Black voters, progressive Democrats, and working-class neighborhoods.
US House of Representatives Highlights
Carson has won every race for Indiana’s 7th congressional district since 2008, including a 2008 special election, a 2008 general election with 65 percent of the vote, and eight subsequent reelection campaigns. He defeated Republican challengers Jon Elrod, Marvin Scott, Carlos May, Catherine Ping (twice), Wayne Harmon, Susan Marie Smith, Angela Grabovsky, and John Schmitz. His most recent victory came in 2022 against John Schmitz, extending his tenure beyond fifteen years.
Other Wins and Achievements
Before Congress, André Carson won a 2007 Democratic caucus to claim a seat on the Indianapolis City-County Council, representing the 15th district. He also won the Marion County Democratic Party’s nominating caucus in 2008 to claim the special election nomination for his grandmother’s seat. These early wins helped him build the political organization that would keep him in office for more than a decade and a half.
André Carson Family
Family Background and Political Lineage
André Carson comes from a family with deep roots in Indianapolis and a strong tradition of public service. His grandmother, Julia Carson, represented Indiana’s 7th congressional district from 1997 until her death from lung cancer in December 2007. Julia Carson was a well-known figure in Indiana Democratic politics, and her legacy shaped André’s early interest in community service and government.
André Carson has credited his grandmother with inspiring his decision to enter public life. He grew up watching her career in Indianapolis politics, and her death created both a personal loss and a political opportunity. His subsequent election to her former seat has been described as a continuation of the Carson family’s commitment to the people of Indianapolis.
Personal Life
André Carson was married to Mariama Shaheed, though the couple later divorced. His faith as a Muslim has been a notable part of his public identity; he was the second Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress, after Keith Ellison of Minnesota. He has spoken publicly about how growing up in a tough Indianapolis neighborhood shaped his priorities on education, public safety, and economic opportunity.