Carson, André D., 1974-

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André D. Carson (born October 16, 1974) is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Indiana's 7th congressional district since 2008. A member of the Democratic Party, he became the Dean of Indiana's congressional delegation following the retirement of Representative Pete Visclosky in 2021. He is the grandson of his predecessor, U.S. Representative Julia Carson (1938–2007), whose death in office triggered a special election. Carson was the second Muslim to be elected to the United States Congress, following Keith Ellison of Minnesota in 2006.

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). 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, Carson's grandmother, 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 seat in the House of Representatives. Carson has retained that legislative seat ever since. Before being elected to public office, Carson was a Democratic Party Committeeperson in Indianapolis. In 2007, Carson 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.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
grandchildOf Carson, Julia, 1938-2007 person
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Concordia University Wisconsin (Mequon, Wis.) corporateBody
alumnusOrAlumnaOf Indiana Wesleyan University corporateBody
memberOf United States. Congress. House person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Marion IN US
Indianapolis IN US
Subject
Occupation
City council members
Law enforcement
Representatives, U.S. Congress
Activity

Person

Birth 1974-10-16

Male

Americans

English

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