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Indiana's 7th congressional district

Coordinates: 39°45′N 86°9′W / 39.750°N 86.150°W / 39.750; -86.150
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Indiana's 7th congressional district
Indiana's 7th congressional district since January 3, 2023
Representative
Area265 sq mi (690 km2)
Distribution
  • 99.7% urban
  • 0.3% rural
Population (2023)747,195
Median household
income
$65,485[1]
Ethnicity
Cook PVID+19[2]

Indiana's 7th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Indiana. It is entirely located within Marion County and includes most of Indianapolis, except for the southern side, which is located within the 6th district.

The district is currently represented by Democrat André Carson, who won a special election in 2008 to succeed his grandmother Julia Carson following her death in 2007. With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of D+19, it is the most Democratic district in Indiana.[2]

The district is one of three to be represented by a Muslim in the United States, the others being Michigan's 12th, represented by Rashida Tlaib; and Minnesota's 5th, represented by Ilhan Omar.[3]

From 1967 to 2003, the district served a completely different area of Indiana, covering Fountain, Parke, Tippecanoe, Montgomery, Clinton, Boone, Hendricks, Vigo, Clay, Putnam, and Owen counties and parts of Morgan and Hamilton counties. It had a dramatically different political history from the current 7th; it was a mostly rural area anchored by Terre Haute and Lafayette, and was heavily Republican.

After the loss of a congressional seat in 2000 by virtue of that year's census, an ambitious redistricting plan was implemented in 2002. As mentioned above, most of the old 10th became the new 7th, while the territory of the old 7th was split into the 4th and 8th districts.

This district and its predecessors have not elected a Republican since 1972, and it is considered a safe Democratic seat.

Composition

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# County Seat Population
97 Marion Indianapolis 969,466

As of 2023, Indiana's 7th congressional district is located entirely in Marion County, covering the capital Indianapolis, except for the southernmost townships of the county.

Marion County is split between this district and the 6th district. They are partitioned by E Troy Avenue. The 7th district encompasses the cities of Indianapolis and Lawrence, and the surrounding six townships of Pike, Washington, Lawrence, Warren, Center, and Wayne, and part of the city of Beech Grove.

Cities of 10,000 people or more

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2,500 – 10,000 people

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Election results from presidential races

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Year Office Result
2000 President Al Gore 56 – George W. Bush 43%
2004 President John Kerry 58 – George W. Bush 42%
2008 President Barack Obama 71 – John McCain 28%
2012 President Barack Obama 62.9 – Mitt Romney 35.3%
2016 President Hillary Clinton 59.0 – Donald Trump 36.2%
2020 President Joe Biden 62.9 – Donald Trump 35.3%

History

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The current area of the 7th District is largely the same as what had been the 10th District from 1983 to 2003. It includes all of Center Township, now widely regarded as a Democratic stronghold due to its large African American population and gentrified middle class.

Traditionally, the city and the district have been more competitive and much more Republican. For years Indianapolis was one of the most Republican metropolitan areas in the country, particularly during the years when Richard Lugar and William H. Hudnut III served as Mayor of Indianapolis. However, in recent decades, much of the affluence of the city has begun to migrate to the edges of the city and outer Marion County, which has resulted in the Democratic lean. The southern portion of Marion County, which tilts more Republican, is not included in the district.

The southern and eastern parts of the district include the more modest neighborhoods of the city, which is home to Amtrak's largest repair yard. Since the late 1990s, there has been an influx of Mexican and Hispanic workers to the district, which has further increased its Democratic leanings. Also, as the industrial and financial center of Indiana, the district has been strongly influenced by the politics of the unions in the past; however, their influence over the district has become increasingly marginal in recent years.

List of members representing the district

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Member Party Years Cong
ress
Electoral history
District created March 4, 1833

Edward A. Hannegan
(Covington)
Jacksonian March 4, 1833 –
March 3, 1837
23rd
24th
Elected in 1833.
Re-elected in 1835.
Retired.

Albert S. White
(Lafayette)
Whig March 4, 1837 –
March 3, 1839
25th Elected in 1837.
Retired to run for U.S. senator.

Tilghman Howard
(Rockville)
Democratic March 3, 1839 –
July 1, 1840
26th Elected in 1839.
Resigned.
Vacant July 1, 1840 –
August 3, 1840

Henry S. Lane
(Crawfordsville)
Whig August 3, 1840 –
March 3, 1843
26th
27th
Elected to finish Howard's term.
Re-elected in 1841.
Retired.

Joseph A. Wright
(Rockville)
Democratic March 4, 1843 –
March 3, 1845
28th Elected in 1843.
Lost re-election.

Edward W. McGaughey
(Greencastle)
Whig March 4, 1845 –
March 3, 1847
29th Elected in 1845.
Lost renomination.

Richard W. Thompson
(Terre Haute)
Whig March 4, 1847 –
March 3, 1849
30th Elected in 1847.
Renominated but declined to run.

Edward W. McGaughey
(Rockville)
Whig March 4, 1849 –
March 3, 1851
31st Elected in 1849.
Lost re-election.

John G. Davis
(Rockville)
Democratic March 4, 1851 –
March 3, 1855
32nd
33rd
Elected in 1851.
Re-elected in 1852.[a]
Lost re-election.
Harvey D. Scott
(Terre Haute)
People's March 4, 1855 –
March 3, 1857
34th Elected in 1854.
Retired.

John G. Davis
(Rockville)
Anti-Lecompton
Democratic
March 4, 1857 –
March 3, 1861
35th
36th
Elected in 1856.
Re-elected in 1858.
Retired.

Daniel W. Voorhees
(Terre Haute)
Democratic March 4, 1861 –
February 23, 1866
37th
38th
39th
Elected in 1860.
Re-elected in 1862.
Lost contested election.

Henry D. Washburn
(Clinton)
Republican February 23, 1866 –
March 3, 1869
39th
40th
Won contested election.
Re-elected in 1866.
Retired.

Godlove S. Orth
(Lafayette)
Republican March 4, 1869 –
March 3, 1871
41st Redistricted from the 8th district and re-elected in 1868.
Retired.

Mahlon D. Manson
(Crawfordsville)
Democratic March 4, 1871 –
March 3, 1873
42nd Elected in 1870.
Lost re-election.

Thomas J. Cason
(Lebanon)
Republican March 4, 1873 –
March 3, 1875
43rd Elected in 1872.
Redistricted to the 9th district.

Franklin Landers
(Indianapolis)
Democratic March 4, 1875 –
March 3, 1877
44th Elected in 1874.
Lost re-election.

John Hanna
(Indianapolis)
Republican March 4, 1877 –
March 3, 1879
45th Elected in 1876.
Lost re-election.

Gilbert De La Matyr
(Indianapolis)
Greenback March 4, 1879 –
March 3, 1881
46th Elected in 1878.
Lost re-election.

Stanton J. Peelle
(Indianapolis)
Republican March 4, 1881 –
May 22, 1884
47th
48th
Elected in 1880.
Lost contested election.

William E. English
(Indianapolis)
Democratic May 22, 1884 –
March 3, 1885
48th Won contested election.
Retired.

William D. Bynum
(Indianapolis)
Democratic March 4, 1885 –
March 3, 1895
49th
50th
51st
52nd
53rd
Elected in 1884.
Re-elected in 1886.
Re-elected in 1888.
Re-elected in 1890.
Re-elected in 1892.
Lost re-election.

Charles L. Henry
(Anderson)
Republican March 4, 1895 –
March 3, 1897
54th Elected in 1894.
Redistricted to the 8th district.

Jesse Overstreet
(Indianapolis)
Republican March 4, 1897 –
March 3, 1909
55th
56th
57th
58th
59th
60th
Redistricted from the 5th district and re-elected in 1896.
Re-elected in 1898.
Re-elected in 1900.
Re-elected in 1902.
Re-elected in 1904.
Re-elected in 1906.
Lost re-election.

Charles A. Korbly
(Indianapolis)
Democratic March 4, 1909 –
March 3, 1915
61st
62nd
63rd
Elected in 1908.
Re-elected in 1910.
Re-elected in 1912.
Lost re-election.

Merrill Moores
(Indianapolis)
Republican March 4, 1915 –
March 3, 1925
64th
65th
66th
67th
68th
Elected in 1914.
Re-elected in 1916.
Re-elected in 1918.
Re-elected in 1920.
Re-elected in 1922.
Lost renomination.

Ralph E. Updike
(Indianapolis)
Republican March 4, 1925 –
March 3, 1929
69th
70th
Elected in 1924.
Re-elected in 1926.
Lost re-election.

Louis Ludlow
(Indianapolis)
Democratic March 4, 1929 –
March 3, 1933
71st
72nd
Elected in 1928.
Re-elected in 1930.
Redistricted to the 12th district.

Arthur H. Greenwood
(Washington)
Democratic March 3, 1933 –
January 3, 1939
73rd
74th
75th
Redistricted from the 2nd district and re-elected in 1932.
Re-elected in 1934.
Re-elected in 1936.
Lost re-election.

Gerald W. Landis
(Linton)
Republican January 3, 1939 –
January 3, 1949
76th
77th
78th
79th
80th
Elected in 1938.
Re-elected in 1940.
Re-elected in 1942.
Re-elected in 1944.
Re-elected in 1946.
Lost re-election.

James E. Noland
(Bloomington)
Democratic January 3, 1949 –
January 3, 1951
81st Elected in 1948.
Lost re-election.

William G. Bray
(Martinsville)
Republican January 3, 1951 –
January 3, 1967
82nd
83rd
84th
85th
86th
87th
88th
89th
Elected in 1950.
Re-elected in 1952.
Re-elected in 1954.
Re-elected in 1956.
Re-elected in 1958.
Re-elected in 1960.
Re-elected in 1962.
Re-elected in 1964.
Redistricted to the 6th district.

John T. Myers
(Covington)
Republican January 3, 1967 –
January 3, 1997
90th
91st
92nd
93rd
94th
95th
96th
97th
98th
99th
100th
101st
102nd
103rd
104th
Elected in 1966.
Re-elected in 1968.
Re-elected in 1970.
Re-elected in 1972.
Re-elected in 1974.
Re-elected in 1976.
Re-elected in 1978.
Re-elected in 1980.
Re-elected in 1982.
Re-elected in 1984.
Re-elected in 1986.
Re-elected in 1988.
Re-elected in 1990.
Re-elected in 1992
Re-elected in 1994.
Retired.

Edward A. Pease
(Terre Haute)
Republican January 3, 1997 –
January 3, 2001
105th
106th
Elected in 1996.
Re-elected in 1998.
Retired.

Brian D. Kerns
(Prairieton)
Republican January 3, 2001 –
January 3, 2003
107th Elected in 2000.
Redistricted to the 4th district and lost renomination.

Julia Carson
(Indianapolis)
Democratic January 3, 2003 –
December 15, 2007
108th
109th
110th
Redistricted from the 10th district and re-elected in 2002.
Re-elected in 2004.
Re-elected in 2006.
Died.
Vacant December 15, 2007 –
March 11, 2008
110th

André Carson
(Indianapolis)
Democratic March 11, 2008 –
present
110th
111th
112th
113th
114th
115th
116th
117th
118th
Elected to finish his grandmother's term.
Re-elected in 2008.
Re-elected in 2010.
Re-elected in 2012.
Re-elected in 2014.
Re-elected in 2016.
Re-elected in 2018.
Re-elected in 2020.
Re-elected in 2022.

Recent election results

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2002

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2002)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Julia Carson 77,478 53.13%
Republican Ambrose McVey 64,379 44.14%
Libertarian Andrew Horning 3,919 2.69%
No party Others 64 0.04%
Total votes 145,840 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic gain from Republican

2004

[edit]
Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2004)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Julia Carson (incumbent) 121,303 54.35%
Republican Andrew Horning 97,491 43.68%
Libertarian Barry Campbell 4,381 1.96%
Total votes 223,175 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2006

[edit]
Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2006)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Julia Carson (incumbent) 74,750 53.76%
Republican Eric Dickerson 64,304 46.24%
Total votes 139,054 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2008

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District special election (March 11, 2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson 45,668 54.04%
Republican Jonathan Elrod 36,415 43.09%
Libertarian Sean Sheppard 2,430 2.88%
Total votes 84,513 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic hold
Indiana's 7th Congressional District general election (2008)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 172,650 65.08%
Republican Gabrielle Campo 92,645 34.92%
Total votes 265,295 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2010

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2010)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 86,011 58.90%
Republican Marvin B. Scott 55,213 37.81%
Libertarian Dav Wilson 4,815 3.30%
Total votes 146,039 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2012

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2012)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 162,122 62.85%
Republican Carlos May 95,828 37.15%
Total votes 257,950 100.00%
Turnout  
Democratic hold

2014

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2014)[4]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Andre Carson (incumbent) 61,443 54.73%
Republican Catherine Ping 46,887 41.77%
Libertarian Chris Mayo 3,931 3.50%
Total votes 112,261 100.00%
Democratic hold

2016

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2016)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 158,739 59.98%
Republican Catherine Ping 94,456 35.69%
Libertarian Drew Thompson 11,475 4.34%
Total votes 264,670 100.00%
Democratic hold

2018

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2018)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 141,139 64.9%
Republican Wayne Harmon 76,457 35.1%
Total votes 217,596 100.0%
Democratic hold

2020

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Indiana's 7th Congressional District election (2020)
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic André Carson (incumbent) 176,422 62.4%
Republican Susan Marie Smith 106,146 37.6%
Total votes 282,568 100.0%
Democratic hold

Historical district boundaries

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2003 – 2013
2013 – 2023

See also

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Notes

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  1. ^ Starting in 1852, Indiana held its elections in even-numbered years.

References

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  1. ^ My Congressional District
  2. ^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
  3. ^ How many members of the new Congress are Catholic?, Michael J. O'Loughlin, January 3, 2019
  4. ^ "Secretary of State : Election Division: Election Results". Retrieved December 18, 2014.

39°45′N 86°9′W / 39.750°N 86.150°W / 39.750; -86.150