Indiana's 7th congressional district special election, 2008

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 Indiana's 7th congressional district, 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.Executive Order 08-01
Mitch Daniels. January 7, 2008. Both political parties had previously agreed to this date.Special election confuses candidates
Brendan O'Shaughnessy January 6, 2008. ''The Indianapolis Star'' Democrat André Carson won the election with an 18.17% voter turnout.

Candidates

On January 11, the Democratic caucus chose André Carson to run in the March 11 special election.Andre Carson is Democratic nominee for 7th Congressional seat
WISH-TV, January 12, 2008. On January 12, the Republicans chose Jon Elrod as their candidate7th District race getting crowded
Kevin Rader. January 9, 2008. and the Libertarian caucus nominated Sean Shepard.The Green Papers: Indiana 2008 General Election
Green Papers, January 21, 2008.

Democratic

*André Carson – Indianapolis City-County Council member, District 15, and Julia Carson's grandson
*Ran for Nomination
**Carolene Mays – Indiana House of Representatives, State Representative, District 94
**David Orentlicher – Indiana House of Representatives, State Representative, District 86
**Randle Pollard – Attorney
**Michael Rodman – Marion County Treasurer
**Joanne Sanders – Indianapolis City-County Council Minority leader, At-Large
**Jeff White – John Marshall Middle School Principal
**Frances Nelson Williams – Methodist Hospital of Indianapolis, Methodist Hospital Chaplain
*Declined to Run
**Frank J. Anderson – Marion County, Indiana, Marion County SheriffRace for seat could divide Dems
Brendan O'Shaughnessy. December 16, 2007. ''The Indianapolis Star''.
**Carl Drummer – Center Township, Marion County, Indiana, Center Township Trustee
**Woody Meyers – Former State Health Commissioner
**Bart Peterson – Former List of mayors of Indianapolis, Indiana, Indianapolis Mayor
**Greg Porter – Indiana House of Representatives, State Representative, District 96
**Robin Winston – Former Indiana Democratic Party, State Party Chairman

Libertarian

*Sean ShepardLPIN selects Sean Shepard for District 7 Congressional special election
/ref> – Small business owner

Republican

*Jon Elrod – Indiana House of Representatives, State Representative, District 97Republicans chose State Representative for 7th Congressional seat
January 13, 2008. ''WISH-TV''
*Ran for Nomination4 Republicans enter race to replace Carson
Dan McFeely January 11, 2008. ''The Indianapolis Star''
**Gabrielle Campo – Social worker
**Thomas Rose – Radio talk show host and aide to former Mayor Stephen Goldsmith
**Greg Stroude – Real estate broker
*Declined to Run
**Indiana's 7th congressional district election, 2006#Results, Eric Dickerson – Businessman, Julia Carson's 2006 challenger

Environment

The district, which covers most of Marion County, Indiana, 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 List of mayors of Indianapolis, Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson by Republican Gregory A. Ballard, 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.

Results

External links

André Carson for CongressJon Elrod's campaign siteSean Shepard's campaign site

References

{{2008 United States elections

Special elections to the 110th United States Congress, Indiana 2008 07
United States House of Representatives special elections, Indiana 2008 07
United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana, 2008 07 Special
2008 United States House of Representatives elections, Indiana 07 Special
2008 Indiana elections, United States House of Representatives 07 Special
Indiana special elections, United States House of Representatives 2008 07