André Carson

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André Carson
André Carson
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 7th district
Incumbent
Assumed office 
March 13, 2008
Preceded by Julia Carson
Member of the
Indianapolis City-County Council
from the 15th district
In office
October 2007 – March 13, 2008
Preceded by Patrice Abduallah
Succeeded by Doris Minton-McNeill
Born October 16 1974 ( 1974-10-16) (age 33)
Indianapolis, Indiana
Political party Democratic
Spouse Mariama Shaheed
Profession Marketing specialist
Religion Islam
Website Congressman André Carson

André D. Carson (born October 16, 1974) is the United States Representative for Indiana's 7th congressional district and the grandson of his predecessor, Representative Julia Carson.[1][2] Carson, who describes himself as "an Orthodox, universal, secular Muslim,"[3] is the second Muslim to serve in the U.S. Congress, after Keith Ellison, and the first from Indiana.

Contents

Biography

Carson is a native of Indianapolis, Indiana. He graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University Wisconsin and a Master of Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University. He was a local board officer and investigator for the Indiana State Excise Police for nine years. He also served in the Indiana Department of Homeland Security at the Intelligence Fusion Center, supervising an anti-terrorism unit. He was a marketing specialist for Cripe Architects + Engineers.[4] He is also a Democratic Party committeeperson in Center Township of Marion County, Indiana.

He, his wife Mariama, and daughter Salimah live in the Fall Creek Place neighborhood of Indianapolis.

Indianapolis City-County Council

Carson was elected to the Council for Indianapolis's 15th district in 2007 to replace Patrice Abduallah in Indianapolis's 15th district after it was disclosed that Abduallah did not live in the district.[5]

U.S. House of Representatives campaign

André Carson won the Democratic nomination for Indiana's 7th congressional district, with 223 of 439 votes cast in his favor; the seat became vacant after the death of his grandmother Julia Carson. Carson won the special election on March 11, 2008, to complete the term, winning 53% of the vote.

He was endorsed by U.S. Senator Evan Bayh[6] , former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, Marion County Sheriff Frank J. Anderson[7] , current Representative from Indiana's 8th district, Brad Ellsworth[7], retired U.S. Congressman Andy Jacobs, Jr and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Carson is not a member of the Nation of Islam and denies any specific link to Farrakhan. According to the Jewish Daily Forward, "André Carson is fighting claims about his family’s connection with Farrakhan".[8] 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.[9]

Carson ran a grassroots campaign that included on-foot canvassing by the Neighbors for Carson campaign.[citation needed]

Carson defeated Republican Jon Elrod and Libertarian Sean Shepard in the special election on March 11, 2008.[10] Despite speculation to the contrary[11], Carson took his oath of office while holding a bound copy of the United States Constitution[1]. This was during a mock swearing in ceremony as there is no official ceremony for interim Congressmen. He did not take his oath on the Koran.

Carson endorsed U.S. Presidential Candidate Barack Obama in April of 2008. Carson was the first of Indiana's five U.S. House Democrats to announce support for a presidential candidate.[12]

Committees and subcommittees

In the 110th Congress;

Election history

Indiana's 7th congressional district
Year Democrat Votes Pct Republican Votes Pct 3rd Party Party Votes Pct
2008 André Carson 45,634 54% Jon Elrod 36,322 43% Sean Shepard Libertarian 2,719 3% [13]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Indystar.com: Carson sworn in as congressman for 7th District
  2. ^ Office of the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representative: 03/13/2008 Official lists were updated to reflect the addition of Rep. Carson, IN-07, to the rolls.
  3. ^ Ruth Holladay (2008-01-06). Andre Carson on identity and belief. RuthHolladay.com.
  4. ^ Biography. André Carson for Congress. Retrieved on 2008-01-13.
  5. ^ Patrice Abduallah Never Lived In District 15. Advance Indiana (2007-11-02).
  6. ^ Sen. Bayh lends support to Andre Carson. Howey Politics Indiana (2008-01-24). Retrieved on 2008-02-18.
  7. ^ a b WTHR. Carson gets two endorsements. 2008-02-25. WTHR.com. Retrieved on 2008-02-25.
  8. ^ Farrakhan Casts Long Shadow on Campaign Trail. Howey Politics Indiana (2008-02-28). Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  9. ^ Carson Leading Elrod in Cash
  10. ^ Indystar.com: Carson wins seat in 7th District race
  11. ^ andre-carson wins caucus slating on first vote
  12. ^ Wishtv.com: Carson endorses Obama
  13. ^ Special Election. Indy Gov. Retrieved on 2008-03-11.

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Julia Carson		 Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Indiana's 7th congressional district
2008 – present		 Incumbent
v • d • e
Indiana's current delegation to the United States Congress
Senators
Representative(s)
Pete Visclosky (D), Joe Donnelly (D), Mark Souder (R), Steve Buyer (R), Dan Burton (R), Mike Pence (R), André Carson (D), Brad Ellsworth (D), Baron Hill (D)
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