Indiana's 7th congressional district special election, 2008
Encyclopedia
Indiana's 7th congressional district special election of 2008 took place March 11, 2008 to fill the seat in the United States House of Representatives
left vacant by the death of 7th district
representative Julia Carson
(D) on December 15, 2007. The election determined who would fill the vacancy for the rest of the 110th United States Congress
. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels
set the date for the special election. Both political parties had previously agreed to this date. Democrat André Carson
won the election with a 18.17% voter turnout.
to run in the March 11 special election. On January 12, the Republicans chose Jon Elrod
as their candidate and the Libertarian caucus nominated Sean Shepard.
The district, which covers most of Marion County
, is considered difficult for Republicans. It includes most of what was the city of Indianapolis before the creation of Unigov
in 1970, and includes most of the more Democratic areas of the county. John Kerry won the 7th district in 2004 with 58%, but after the November 2007 upset of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson
by Republican Greg Ballard
, the race was assumed to be competitive. However, in the precincts of the 7th District Democrat Bart Peterson still received 54% of the votes.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
left vacant by the death of 7th district
Indiana's 7th congressional district
Indiana's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. Based in the heart of the state, the district encompasses most of Marion County and Indianapolis....
representative Julia Carson
Julia Carson
Julia May Carson , born Julia May Porter, was a member of the United States House of Representatives for from 1997 until her death in 2007 . Carson was the first woman and first African American to represent the 7th District...
(D) on December 15, 2007. The election determined who would fill the vacancy for the rest of the 110th United States Congress
110th United States Congress
The One Hundred Tenth United States Congress was the meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, between January 3, 2007, and January 3, 2009, during the last two years of the second term of President George W. Bush. It was composed of the Senate and the House of...
. Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels
Mitch Daniels
Mitchell Elias "Mitch" Daniels, Jr. is the 49th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Indiana. A Republican, he began his first four-year term as governor on January 10, 2005, and was elected to his second term by an 18-point margin on November 4, 2008. Previously, he was the Director of the...
set the date for the special election. Both political parties had previously agreed to this date. Democrat André Carson
André Carson
André D. Carson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2008. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
won the election with a 18.17% voter turnout.
Candidates
On January 11, the Democratic caucus chose André CarsonAndré Carson
André D. Carson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2008. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
to run in the March 11 special election. On January 12, the Republicans chose Jon Elrod
Jon Elrod
Jonathan "Jon" Robert Elrod is an American attorney and politician. He is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives from District 97....
as their candidate and the Libertarian caucus nominated Sean Shepard.
Democratic
- André CarsonAndré CarsonAndré D. Carson is the U.S. Representative for , serving since the special election in 2008. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
- Indianapolis City-County CouncilIndianapolis City-County CouncilThe Indianapolis City–County Council is the city legislature of Indianapolis, Indiana and Marion County, known as Unigov. It was formally established in 1970 upon the merger of the city government with the county government. Both the Council and Mayor's office are located within the Indianapolis...
member, District 15, and Julia Carson's grandson - Ran for Nomination
- Carolene MaysCarolene MaysCarolene R. Mays was appointed by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels as a Commissioner for the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission in February, 2010....
- State RepresentativeIndiana House of RepresentativesThe Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
, District 94 - David OrentlicherDavid OrentlicherDavid Orentlicher is an educator, physician, attorney, and an American politician. He is a member of the Democratic Party. He is the Samuel R. Rosen Professor and Co-Director of the Center for Law and Health at Indiana University McKinney School of Law. He also is an adjunct professor at Indiana...
- State RepresentativeIndiana House of RepresentativesThe Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
, District 86 - Randle Pollard - Attorney
- Michael Rodman - Marion County Treasurer
- Joanne Sanders - Indianapolis City-County CouncilIndianapolis City-County CouncilThe Indianapolis City–County Council is the city legislature of Indianapolis, Indiana and Marion County, known as Unigov. It was formally established in 1970 upon the merger of the city government with the county government. Both the Council and Mayor's office are located within the Indianapolis...
Minority leader, At-Large - Jeff White - John Marshall Middle School Principal
- Frances Nelson Williams - Methodist HospitalMethodist HospitalMethodist Hospital is the name of numerous medical institutions.* The Methodist Hospital, Houston, Texas* Methodist Medical Center of Illinois, Peoria, Illinois* Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana...
Chaplain
- Carolene Mays
- Declined to Run
- Frank J. AndersonFrank J. AndersonFrank Anderson served as Sheriff of Marion County, Indiana from 2003 until 2011 when he was succeeded by Sheriff John R. Layton, and is the first black individual to serve in that post. He is the second black Sheriff in Indiana after Oatess E. Archey.-Early life and career:Frank Anderson grew up...
- Marion CountyMarion County, IndianaMarion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
Sheriff - Carl Drummer - Center TownshipCenter Township, Marion County, IndianaCenter Township is one of nine townships in Marion County, Indiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, its population was 167,055, making it the most populated township in Marion County...
Trustee - Woody Meyers - Former State Health Commissioner
- Bart PetersonBart PetersonBarton "Bart" R. Peterson is the former mayor of the U.S city of Indianapolis, Indiana. A Democrat first elected in 1999, he was defeated in 2007 in a bid for a third term in what was widely viewed as a huge upset.A lifelong Indianapolis resident, Peterson graduated from North Central High School...
- Former Indianapolis Mayor - Greg PorterGreg PorterGreg Porter is a Democratic member of the Indiana House of Representatives, representing the 96th District since 1992. He played in Down and Derby.-External links:* Official government website* profile*Follow the Money - Gregory W Porter...
- State RepresentativeIndiana House of RepresentativesThe Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
, District 96 - Robin Winston - Former State PartyIndiana Democratic PartyThe Democratic Party of Indiana is a political party and affiliate of the United States Democratic Party in Indiana. The Indiana Democratic Party also hold three of Indiana's nine Congressional seats...
Chairman
- Frank J. Anderson
Republican
- Jon ElrodJon ElrodJonathan "Jon" Robert Elrod is an American attorney and politician. He is a former member of the Indiana House of Representatives from District 97....
- State RepresentativeIndiana House of RepresentativesThe Indiana House of Representatives is the lower house of the Indiana General Assembly, the state legislature of the U.S. state of Indiana. The House is composed of 100 members representing an equal number of constituent districts. House members serve two-year terms without term limits...
, District 97 - Ran for Nomination
- Gabrielle Campo - Social worker
- Thomas Rose - Radio talk show host and aide to former Mayor Stephen GoldsmithStephen GoldsmithStephen "Steve" Goldsmith is the former mayor of Indianapolis and most recently served as the Deputy Mayor of New York City for Operations, stepping down effective August 4, 2011 after a domestic violence arrest. He is also the Daniel Paul Professor of Government at the John F...
- Greg Stroude - Real estate broker
- Declined to Run
- Eric Dickerson - Businessman, Julia Carson's 2006 challenger
Environment
Marion County, Indiana
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Indiana. Census 2010 recorded a population of 903,393, making it the largest county in the state and 55th most populated county in the country, greater than the population of six states. The county seat is Indianapolis, the state capital and...
, is considered difficult for Republicans. It includes most of what was the city of Indianapolis before the creation of Unigov
Unigov
Unigov is the name adopted by the city of Indianapolis to describe its consolidated city–county government. By an act of the Indiana state legislature, Indianapolis consolidated with the government of Marion County in 1970. Within Unigov are eleven "included towns", which maintain some of their own...
in 1970, and includes most of the more Democratic areas of the county. John Kerry won the 7th district in 2004 with 58%, but after the November 2007 upset of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson
Bart Peterson
Barton "Bart" R. Peterson is the former mayor of the U.S city of Indianapolis, Indiana. A Democrat first elected in 1999, he was defeated in 2007 in a bid for a third term in what was widely viewed as a huge upset.A lifelong Indianapolis resident, Peterson graduated from North Central High School...
by Republican Greg Ballard
Gregory A. Ballard
Gregory A. Ballard is the Republican mayor of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. On Tuesday, November 6, 2007, he defeated two-term incumbent Democratic Mayor Bart Peterson by 51% to 47%. It was described as one of the biggest upsets in the political history of Indiana.-Background:Ballard was...
, the race was assumed to be competitive. However, in the precincts of the 7th District Democrat Bart Peterson still received 54% of the votes.