Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) has a new friend in Indiana — or vice versa. Recently elected Rep. André Carson on Wednesday became the first Democrat in his state’s Congressional delegation to endorse Obama for the May 6 state primary.

“Sen. Obama is a fighter for working families, and part of a new generation of leadership that will bring needed change for our country and I am proud to endorse him for president,” Carson said in a statement.

Carson was elected in March to finish out the term of his late grandmother, Rep. Julia Carson (D).

Like Obama, Carson has a primary race on May 6, when he faces three other Democrats who want to run in the general election for the full term. Former state Health Commissioner Woody Myers, state Rep. Carolene Mays and state Rep. David Orentlicher all are challenging Carson, who also has the support from both state and national Democrats.

— Shira Toeplitz