Indianapolis City-County Councilman André Carson has filed for the Democratic primary in May to run for a full term in Congress.

Carson already has his party’s backing for the special election to serve out the term left unfinished by his grandmother, the late Rep. Julia Carson (D), who died in December. Carson will face state Rep. Jon Elrod (R) in the March 11 special election.

State Rep. David Orentlicher (D) also has filed to run for the full term. Orentlicher was the only candidate besides Carson to gain significant support in the special Democratic caucus earlier this month.

A bevy of other candidates, including additional members of the City-County Council and state Legislature, also have expressed interest in running for the full term. The filing deadline for the primary is Feb. 22.

The changing electoral landscape in Indianapolis could put the district in reach for Republicans; however, Democrats are favored to hold the seat.
— Shira Toeplitz