André Carson has been in Congress since 2008. Could his 2026 primary be competitive?

Indianapolis Star

3 days ago

Indianapolis U.S. Rep. André Carson has seen plenty of primary challengers throughout his 17 years representing Indiana's 7th Congressional District, but his Democratic opponent for 2026 could be his toughest race yet.
The political attacks are already starting between the 17-year incumbent and his 34-year-old primary opponent. George Hornedo, a political strategist and attorney, said he is running against Carson because he wants to be a representative that delivers results to the community and builds Democratic power across the state. Indianapolis needs a change from Carson, Hornedo said.
'I respect Congressman Carson,' Hornedo said. 'Up until this, I had a good relationship with him, but sometimes we have to tell the truth.'
Hornedo's campaign is part of a current trend across the country of younger candidates challenging longtime Democratic incumbents in Congress, arguing the party needs change after President Donald Trump's election in 2024. Those running could get financial support. David Hogg, the embattled Democratic National Committee Vice Chair, in April said he planned to spend $20 million through his organization Leaders We Deserve to support primary challengers to safe-seat Democratic incumbents as well as young candidates running for office in current red districts.
This trend of challenging safe-seat incumbents is likely due to the rise of frustration about Trump administration policies and a lack of action from Democrats, who are in the minority, said Mike Wolf, chair of the Mike Downs Center for Politics at Purdue University Fort Wayne. There is likely also resentment among the party about the end of former President Joe Biden's 2024 campaign and time at the White House, Wolf said.
"If you're in a blue district, this is maybe one of the only actions you can take to really do something about it," Wolf said.
But Hornedo faces the same challenges Carson's past Democratic and Republican opponents have run into for more than a decade. Not only does Carson have the name recognition advantage from being a 17-year incumbent in deep blue Indianapolis, he shares the last name of his late grandmother Julia Carson, who served in the Indiana General Assembly before becoming the first Black woman from Indianapolis elected to Congress in 1996.
In 2024, Carson defeated his closest primary challenger by 85 percentage points and closest general election opponent by 39 percentage points.
Despite that, Hornedo said Carson has not provided proper leadership to the 7th Congressional District or helped grow Democratic power. He points to recent low voter turnout in Marion County and the congressman's low legislative effectiveness ranking of 197/220 by the Center for Effective Lawmaking.
Caroline Ellert, a spokesperson for Carson's campaign, dismissed the critiques. Voter turnout is "a multifacted issue" and Marion County is a Democratic stronghold due to "a strong ground game" Carson has built over the years, Ellert said. Additionally, one website does not reflect the congressman's career or indicate the support of his constituents.
"It doesn't take into account Congressman Carson's classified work with the House Intel committee, grant funding secured for the district, and community project funding— which is funding that goes directly to Indianapolis projects," Ellert said.
Hornedo grew up in Indianapolis and attended Park Tudor School. He received an undergraduate degree at Cornell University, a master's degree from Harvard University and a law degree from George Washington University Law School, according to his campaign website.
While his political resume doesn't yet include elected office, Hornedo said he worked in communications for the Department of Justice during former President Barack Obama's administration and as a delegate director for then-South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign in addition to other policy roles in the nonprofit and private sectors.
Last year, Hornedo founded a political group called Next Gen Hoosiers to support and elect 'a new generation of leaders.' Federal campaign finance reports show the group raised and spent $20,000 in last year, but has not yet directly donated to any political candidates.
While Hornedo may have more political experience than some of Carson's past primary challengers, Carson has handily defeated his primary opponents over the years. Still, Hornedo said he views a win over Carson and change in party leadership as "inevitable."
"I see this as a really pivotal point in the city of Indianapolis, not just for the seat in 2026, but for the mayoral seat in 2027 of how do we get new leadership that is a break from the past," Hornedo said. "Leadership that actually has a forward looking vision for the community and the ability to execute and the desire to take on that leadership part of building role, and the desire to be the connector and the convener."
Indiana's primary election is nearly a year from now, but Hornedo has already begun attacking Carson.
In posts on social media Hornedo criticized an early May event Carson held at the Center Township Government Center with U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark, a top House Democrat. Hornedo said Clark's visit was a sign Carson was "scared" about Hornedo's campaign. (Carson dismissed the comments and said Hornedo "probably doesn't remember" past Democrats visiting Indianapolis "because he wasn't living here at the time.")
More: Why a top House Democrat joined Rep. André Carson for an event in Indianapolis
Hornedo in early May also posted a video on X saying he was turned away from a "local Democratic community organizing meeting," which he said was another sign the party is uncomfortable with change. The director of the Indiana House Democratic Caucus disputed Hornedo's description of the event in a response on X, saying he tried to attend a ticketed political fundraiser he had not RSVP'd to.
Federal campaign finance reports, which are due in July, will begin to signal what direction the primary might head in the coming months. But the early start of political swipes is a sign the 7th Congressional District primary could shape up to be a contentious race.
Indiana's primary election is May 5, 2026.
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at [e-mail]. Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany.