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2008 Indiana's 7th congressional district special election
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2008 Indiana's 7th congressional district special election Indiana 2008 by-election no 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana#District 7 2006 2008 03 11 2008 United States House of Representatives elections in Indiana#District 7 November 2008 Indiana's 7th congressional district File:AndreCarson.jpg André Carson Democratic Party (United States) 45,634 54.0% 3x4.svg 150x150px Jon Elrod Republican Party (United States) 36,399 43.0% U.S. Representative Julia Carson Democratic Party (United States) André Carson Democratic Party (United States)
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.Executive Order 08-01 https://web.archive.org/web/20080216055548/http://www.in.gov/gov/files/EO_08-01.pdf February 16, 2008 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.Indystar.com: Carson wins seat in 7th District race https://web.archive.org/web/20080314230654/http://www.indystar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080311%2FLOCAL18%2F803110367 2008-03-14 ; Official results https://web.archive.org/web/20080315011641/http://imcwwa2k3.indygov.org/elecnight/2008spec/view.asp 2008-03-15
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 https://web.archive.org/web/20080226032210/http://www.wishtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=7614878 February 26, 2008 WISH-TV, January 12, 2008. On January 12, the Republicans chose Jon Elrod as their candidate7th District race getting crowded https://web.archive.org/web/20080228141204/http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7599763&nav=menu188_2_10 2008-02-28 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 – State Representative, District 94
David Orentlicher – 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 Chaplain
Declined to Run
Frank J. Anderson – Marion County SheriffRace for seat could divide Dems Brendan O'Shaughnessy. December 16, 2007. The Indianapolis Star.
Carl Drummer – Center Township Trustee
Woody Meyers – Former State Health Commissioner
Bart Peterson – Former Indianapolis MayorPeterson won't seek Carson's House seat Brendan O'Shaughnessy. December 20, 2007. The Indianapolis Star.
Greg Porter – State Representative, District 96
Robin Winston – Former State Party Chairman
Libertarian
Sean ShepardLPIN selects Sean Shepard for District 7 Congressional special election – Small business owner
Republican
Jon Elrod – State Representative, District 97Republicans chose State Representative for 7th Congressional seatAugust 2026 InternetArchiveBot 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
Eric Dickerson – Businessman, Julia Carson's 2006 challenger
Environment
thumb|Indiana 7th district map
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.
Results
Indiana 7th District House of Representatives special election, 2008http://imcwwa2k3.indygov.org/elecnight/2008spec/view.asp 7th District, Special Election Marion County Clerk March 11, 2008 March 11, 2008 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080315011641/http://imcwwa2k3.indygov.org/elecnight/2008spec/view.asp March 15, 2008
Democratic Party (United States)
André Carson
45,634
54.0%
Republican Party (United States)
Jon Elrod
36,399
43.0%
Libertarian Party (United States)
Sean Shepard
2,426
2.9%
No party
Write-ins
47
0.1%
84,506
18.2%
Democratic Party (United States)
External links
André Carson for Congress
Jon Elrod's campaign site
Sean Shepard's campaign site
References
30em
Indiana 2008 07
Indiana 2008 07
2008 07 Special
Indiana 07 Special
United States House of Representatives 07 Special
United States House of Representatives 2008 07