For nearly two decades, André Carson has enjoyed a comfortable hold on his seat in Congress.
As the Democrat representing the 7th Congressional District, which includes about 750,000 Indianapolis residents, Carson rarely loses an election with less than 60% of the vote. Most of his past challengers have lacked the resources and name recognition to be considered worthy adversaries. He even started his career with a built-in advantage — Carson’s grandmother, Julia Carson, held the seat from 1997 until her death in 2007.
But with congressional Democrats facing low approval ratings, incumbents like Carson may be more vulnerable than ever.
This year, three Democrats are running against the longtime congressman in the May 5 primary. The 7th Congressional District is located entirely in Marion County and includes the six most northern townships.
The candidates are: George Hornedo, an attorney who worked in the Obama administration; Destiny Wells, a U.S. Army reserve lieutenant colonel who previously ran unsuccessfully for secretary of state, state attorney general, and state party chair; and Denise Paul Hatch, a former constable for Center Township.
Whoever wins the Democratic primary will likely coast to victory in the general election. There are no Republicans on the ballot.
André Carson
As a member of Congress, the 51-year-old Carson has advocated for criminal justice reform, investments in public transit and affordable health care. One of four Muslim members of Congress, he’s also been a vocal critic of Israel and of Trump’s war in Iran.
In the most recent fiscal year, Carson secured about $13 million in federal funding for community projects like lead pipe replacement, workforce training programs and purchasing new IndyGo buses.
His challengers, who have pledged not to take money from corporate political action committees, have criticized him for accepting donations from special interest groups.
Carson, who reported having $646,000 in his campaign account at the end of 2025, says his vote can’t be bought.
“I have never, and I will never, allow anyone to impact my vote, other than the people of Indiana’s 7th Congressional District,” Carson said. “In fact, I have voted directly against the interests of donors.”
Carson was first chosen to represent the 7th Congressional District in a special election in October 2007 following the passing of his grandmother, Julia Carson, a historic figure in Indiana politics. Neither of them have ever lost an election.
Perhaps the biggest threat to Carson’s seat came last year when Indiana Republicans, under pressure from President Donald Trump, threatened to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps to ensure their party would win all nine congressional districts. Republicans hold seven of the seats.
That effort was defeated after 21 Republicans joined the 10 Democrats in the Indiana Senate to vote against the measure.
Now, as he prepares for what would be his 10th term in office, Carson says he is focused on delivering results for his constituents.
“We get casework from other congressional districts around the state because our office has a reputation of being very efficient and yielding results, whether that’s getting Hoosiers back into the country or resolving an issue with Social Security,” Carson said.
Carson was born and raised on the east side. He graduated from Arsenal Technical High School and received a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and management from Concordia University and a master’s degree in business management from Indiana Wesleyan University.
Before getting elected to Congress, he worked as a compliance officer for the Indiana State Excise Police and was later employed in the anti-terrorism division of Indiana’s Department of Homeland Security. He also served for a brief time on the City-County Council.
George Hornedo
George Hornedo, 35, is both a lawyer and a political strategist.
In addition to running his own consulting firm, he previously served on the Indiana Democratic Party’s State Central Committee, which makes decisions about party policy and strategy. He also worked on President Obama’s 2012 inaugural committee and advised Pete Buttigieg during his 2020 presidential campaign.
Hornedo believes Carson could be doing more to increase voter turnout in Marion County and play a more active role in bringing federal funds to the area.
“I think about the fact that the congressman doesn’t really play that party builder, that party leader role,” said Hornedo, “and it’s important that whoever sits in the seat fundamentally sees himself not just as a representative in D.C., but a representative for the community and a representative for the party.”
Hornedo, who has raised more than $200,000, including $55,000 loans from himself to his campaign, has drawn criticism from members of his own party for going after a safe Democratic seat rather than running against a Republican.
Since entering the race about a year ago, Hornedo says he and his volunteers have knocked on more than 35,000 doors and spoken with more than 15,000 voters by phone.
He insists his run against Carson isn’t personal.
“It’s because it’s necessary,” Hornedo said. “We have to be honest that he’s failing Indianapolis.”
Hornedo often points out Carson was labeled as one of Congress’ least effective lawmakers by the Center for Effective Lawmaking, which placed Carson 197th out of 220 Democrats.
Carson said he has had 22 pieces of legislation that have been signed into law by presidents and is proud of his work advocating for the passage of the Affordable Care Act and the Dodd-Frank Act, which came in response to the 2008 financial crash.
Destiny Wells
Destiny Wells, 42, may have been a late entry to the race, but she is no stranger to voters.
Living through political campaigns led her to believe that many of Indy’s problems are the result of a broken system that’s being upheld by the current establishment — including Carson.
“I never set out wanting to challenge an incumbent, especially an incumbent who’s a member of the Black Caucus. I don’t want to be doing that,” Wells said. “I hear people. I think representation matters. I think it is a sensitive issue, I get it, but I think the return that we could have on investment of a new candidate would deliver such better policy across all of our different communities in Marion County.”
Like Hornedo, Wells said she would support legislation that would enact a federal moratorium on AI data centers, citing concerns around rising utility bills and environmental pollution.
Wells has spoken critically of Carson for taking money from AES Indiana, a corporate-owned utility whose parent company is being purchased by a group of billionaire investors, including a subsidiary of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. Carson has also accepted money from BlackRock’s political action committee.
“When a legislator accepts a campaign check, you should always assume there’s been a meeting,” Wells said.
Carson said he shares his challengers’ concerns about data centers but stopped short of calling for a temporary ban.
A Martinsville native, Wells earned degrees from Indiana University and the University of Texas School of Law. She is a U.S. Army reserve lieutenant colonel who served in Afghanistan, and she also served as a deputy attorney general in Indiana.
Wells declined to share how much she’s raised for her campaign. She said that information will come out in the next campaign finance report, which is due April 15.
Denise Paul Hatch
Denise Paul Hatch, 66, said she he would focus on addressing homelessness, lowering utility bills and giving all pregnant women access to Medicaid — the federal health insurance program for low-income families — regardless of income or eligibility requirements.
“I think it’s time for new leadership,” Hatch said. “It seems they’re not protecting and not responsive to their constituents.”
She was elected Center Township constable for Marion County Small Claims Court in 2022, but her shortened term was marred by controversy.
She was arrested in February 2024 after an investigation into her office, and again several months later after carrying a firearm in violation of court orders at the time. She later pleaded guilty to official misconduct, a felony, as well as misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct and unlawful possession of a firearm.
Becoming a convicted felon meant Hatch was removed from that office, but she remains eligible to run for federal office.
Hatch told Mirror Indy that she worked hard to get elected.
“What the powers that be did to me didn’t keep me down, because I’m still standing and I’m even more determined to really serve the people,” Hatch said.
How to vote in the Indiana primary
Marion County residents with a valid government-issued photo ID can vote early at the City-County Building from April 7 through May 5, and at one of nine early voting centers from April 25 through May 5.
On election day, which is May 5, residents can vote at one of the county’s 182 vote centers from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. Those still in line when the polls close at 6 p.m. should stay in line to cast their ballots.
The deadline to register to vote is April 6. Visit the state’s Voter Portal to check your registration status.
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Peter Blanchard covers local government. Reach him at 317-605-4836 or peter.blanchard@mirrorindy.org. Follow him on X @peterlblanchard.
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