André Darryl Carson (born October 16, 1974) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for since 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, his district includes the northern four-fifths of Indianapolis, including Downtown Indianapolis. He became the dean of Indiana's congressional delegation after fellow Democrat Pete Visclosky retired in 2021.
Carson is the grandson of his predecessor, U.S. Representative Julia Carson (1938–2007), whose death in office triggered a special election. He was the second Muslim to be elected to Congress, after Keith Ellison of Minnesota.
Personal life and early career André Carson was born and raised in Indianapolis. He graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in Indianapolis and received a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice and management from Concordia University Wisconsin (2003), and a Master of Science degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, Indiana (2005). At a young age, Carson's interest in public service was shaped by his grandmother, the late Congresswoman Julia Carson. Carson grew up in a rough neighborhood, and he credits that experience for shaping his policy views on issues like education, public safety and economic opportunity. He has been married to Mariama Shaheed.
From 1996 to 2005, Carson worked as a compliance officer for the Indiana State Excise Police, the law enforcement arm of the Indiana Alcohol and Tobacco Commission. He was later employed in the anti-terrorism division of Indiana's Department of Homeland Security and then as a marketing specialist for Cripe Architects + Engineers in Indianapolis. He served as a member of the Indianapolis/Marion city-county council from 2007 to 2008.
In December 2007, Julia Carson, who had represented Indiana's 7th district in Congress since 1997, died of lung cancer. Three months later, Carson won a special election for his grandmother's vacant House seat. Carson has retained the seat ever since.
Before being elected to public office, Carson was a Democratic Party Committeeperson in Indianapolis. In 2007, 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.
U.S. House of Representatives Elections
Special election 2008
In 2008, Carson won the nominating caucus of the Marion County Democratic Party, giving him the Democratic nomination for the special election to succeed his late grandmother, Julia Carson. During this election, he was endorsed by U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, then-Senator Barack Obama, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, Marion County Sheriff Frank J. Anderson, then-Representative from Indiana's 8th district Brad Ellsworth, and retired U.S. Representative Andy Jacobs Jr. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi contributed $4,000 each from their own campaign funds and $10,000 each from their political action committees to the Carson campaign.
Carson defeated Republican State Representative Jon Elrod and Libertarian Sean Shepard in the special election on March 11, 2008, securing 53% of the vote.
2008 Carson won the primary election with 46%, while Woody Myers received 24%, David Orentlicher received 21%, and Carolene Mays received 8%. Carson was set to face Elrod in the general election, but Elrod dropped out. Gabrielle Campo was selected by a party caucus to replace Elrod.
Carson was reelected in November 2008 to his first full term in Congress with 65% of the vote. His hometown newspaper, The Indianapolis Star, has praised him for "going strong" in his first year in office, writing that Carson had proved "himself to be relentlessly positive and seriously hardworking."
2010
In 2010, Carson again faced perennial Republican candidate Marvin Scott, who took issue with Carson's Muslim faith during the general election. Carson handily defeated Scott.
2012
Carson was reelected for a third term, defeating Republican Carlos May in the general election.
2014
Carson was reelected for a fourth term, defeating Republican Catherine Ping and Libertarian Chris Mayo in the general election.
2016
Carson was reelected for a fifth term, defeating Republican Catherine Ping in a rematch for the general election.
2018
Carson was reelected for a sixth term, defeating Republican Wayne Harmon in the general election.
2020
Carson was reelected for a seventh term, defeating Republican Susan Marie Smith in the general election.
2022
Carson was reelected for an eighth term, defeating Republican Angela Grabovsky in the general election.
2024
Carson was reelected for a ninth term, defeating Republican John Schmitz in the general election.
Tenure In the 2008 presidential election, Carson endorsed Barack Obama in April 2008, and later won Obama's endorsement in his own May 2008 Democratic primary. Carson was the first member of Indiana's Congressional delegation to announce his support for Obama.
On March 20, 2010, Carson told reporters that health care protesters outside the Capitol hurled racial slurs at fellow Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member John Lewis. Carson came off the House floor and told reporters his story about health care protesters hurling racial slurs during their walk from the Cannon House Office Building to the chambers. Although audio and video recordings of the protest have been posted online, no proof of the racial slurs has yet been provided, and the reward remains unclaimed.
On August 28, 2011, Carson addressed a gathering of supporters and mentioned the Tea Party movement during his speech. "This is the effort that we're seeing of Jim Crow," Carson said. "Some of these folks in Congress right now would love to see us as second-class citizens. Some of them in Congress right now of this Tea Party movement would love to see you and me... hanging on a tree." Carson declined calls to resign, reaffirming, "I stand on the truth of what I spoke", and clarified that his comments were directed at certain Tea Party leaders and not the movement as a whole.
On December 18, 2019, Carson voted for both articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump and was one of only two House members from Indiana to do so, along with Pete Visclosky.
Committee assignments
For the 119th Congress: Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Subcommittee on National Intelligence Enterprise Select Committee on Strategic Competition between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party
Caucus memberships Congressional Arts Caucus Congressional Equality Caucus Black Maternal Health Caucus Congressional Progressive Caucus New Democrat Coalition Human Rights Caucus International Conservation Caucus Labor and Working Families Caucus Congressional Black Caucus Congressional Ukraine Caucus Rare Disease Caucus Congressional Caucus on Turkey and Turkish Americans Congressional Caucus for the Equal Rights Amendment
Political positions
Economy
American reinvestment
Carson voted for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), a $787 billion economic stimulus package, aimed at helping the economy recover from a deepening worldwide recession. This act included increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and incentives, and direct assistance to individuals.
The ARRA led to billions of dollars in investment in Carson's district, including grants to hire more police officers and save teaching jobs, and landmark investments in green technology that created hundreds of new jobs.Recovery.gov: Where is the Money Going?
Consumer protection On June 26, 2009, Carson introduced the Jeremy Warriner Consumer Protection Act (), which would require General Motors and Chrysler to carry liability insurance that would cover vehicles produced before they filed for bankruptcy in early 2009. The bill is named for Jeremy Warriner, an Indianapolis resident who lost his legs when his defective Chrysler vehicle caught fire during a car accident.
Financial services Carson has been a member of the House Committee on Financial Services since taking office in 2008.
Carson voted to pass legislation enacting the Troubled Asset Relief Program on October 3, 2008. He has also voted to pass legislation increasing oversight over the Troubled Asset Relief Program, limiting executive pay, reforming subprime mortgage markets and regulating the financial industry.
Carson co-sponsored , the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, which sought to increase transparency and regulation in the credit card industry. President Obama signed the legislation into law on May 22, 2009.
Carson has voiced his support for legislation creating the Consumer Finance Protection Agency and monitoring systemic risk in the financial sector.
In February 2025, he introduced the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which would prevent individuals without lawful authorization from accessing the payment system of the Department of the Treasury.
Education
Carson has stated his support for programs that improve teacher education and training, improve aging school infrastructure and increase access to affordable, secondary education.
Carson is the author of H.R. 3147, the Young Adults Financial Literacy Act, which was introduced on July 9, 2009. This legislation would establish a grant program to fund partnerships between educational institutions aimed at providing financial literacy education to young adults and families.
On September 17, 2009, Carson voted for H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, which would fully fund the Pell Grant program and increase other student financial aid programs to make college more affordable.
Carson made a speech to an Islamic group that resulted in criticism from groups when he stated that American public schools should be modeled on Islamic madrassas. He granted an interview to reporter Mary Beth Schneider of The Indianapolis Star in which he maintained his remarks had been taken out of context. On the same date, he issued a press release clarifying his position that no "particular faith should be the foundation of our public schools."
Energy and environment Carson has supported investment in the development of new technologies to reduce American dependence on foreign oil, create new jobs and begin to mitigate fossil fuels' adverse environmental effects. He has opposed legislation to increase offshore drilling for oil or natural gas, instead promoting use of solar, wind, biofuel, biomass, and other renewable fuels.
On June 26, 2009, Carson voted for H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act, which seeks to comprehensively address the effects of climate change by funding development of alternative energy technologies and implementing a cap and trade system.
Foreign affairs
Afghanistan and Iraq Carson believes that "American efforts to capture and kill al Qaeda terrorists have greatly diminished" because of the Iraq War. During the War in Afghanistan, Carson often stated his belief that al Qaeda and the Taliban posed the most imminent threat to the United States. Accordingly, he pushed for a reduction of troops in Iraq to cover the needs of the War in Afghanistan.
Disease prevention