André Carson

What makes you qualified or uniquely fit for this position?

I’m a lifelong activist who understands that a member of Congress’ role is to represent the people. I have the experience — I’ve brought back over $1 billion to our community and signed over 22 bills into law. I’m here to serve the people of Indianapolis.

What do you believe are the top three most pressing issues in your district and how will you address them?

Number one, affordability. Prior to this Trump administration, the economy was doing well — we saw record job growth, recovering from the pandemic, with over 15 million new jobs and low unemployment. I worked to pass cost-savings — in particular, lowering the cost of utilities, healthcare, and even a groundbreaking program that provided direct assistance on your internet bill. I heard from countless Indy residents that benefited — but Trump Republicans ended that program. Gas prices are high right now because Trump got us involved in another endless foreign war, which I’ve voted against. Number two, the threat of ICE is real and terrifying for our community. People just don’t feel safe. ICE is tearing apart families, leaving children without their parents and without a support system. It’s creating stress, fear, and tension throughout our entire community. Again and again, I’ve voted against providing any additional funding to ICE. Your tax dollars should go towards making life more affordable, not to kidnap families. Number three, we need to invest in our roads, highways, sidewalks, and rail. I brought home historic federal funding to Indianapolis through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to do just that — but we have so much work left to do. I’m also proud to have brought the funds necessary for IndyGo’s red, purple, and blue lines, which besides the bus lines themsleves, also made improvements to the surrounding roads and sidewalks.

What is your stance on how the federal government is handling immigration enforcement?

Immigrants and enslaved Africans built this country. ICE’s action are illegal, immoral, and are not making our communities safer. Everyone has a right to due process, but we’re repeatedly seeing that right denied. Trump claims ICE is targeting “the worst of the worst,” but the reality is that only a small fraction of detainees have violent criminal convictions. Over 3,000 individuals detained have been children. I’m leading bills like the Neighbors Not Enemies Act to stop ICE and I refuse to vote for further funding to ICE as they continue to terrorize our country.

Many residents are concerned about the cost of food, housing and health care. How would you work to address these concerns?

Because of Democrats’ efforts in Congress, prior to the Trump administration, a record breaking number of Americans were enrolled in affordable health insurance. I also helped pass cost savings for medications — including capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors. We achieved these cost savings by making the wealthiest of Americans pay their fair share. Democrats brought cost savings to the middle class just by making billionaires accountable to pay taxes they already owed. There is no reason a billionaire should be paying a lower rate in taxes than a nurse or a teacher. I’ve also brought funding to organizations addressing food insecurity and housing in Indianapolis. Just this year, I secured new funding to transition unhoused individuals to permanent housing. We need to stop giving tax breaks to Trump’s rich friends and instead give that money to hardworking families.

If you win, how can Marion County constituents expect their lives to improve?

These are difficult times under a Trump administration, whether it’s Trump’s tariffs, ICE’s assault on our communities, or cuts to programs Hoosiers rely on. But this November, we have a chance to make our voices heard and have Democrats regain the House majority. We will then be able to stop Trump and Republicans’ reckless agenda. We will restore programs that were making a difference in American lives: healthcare cost savings, the Affordable Broadband Program to pay for internet bills, utility cost savings and more.