For nearly 30 years, Indiana’s 7th Congressional District has been represented by the Carson family. For many voters — especially in Indianapolis’ Black community — that history carries meaning. Representation matters. It always has.
But representation also has to deliver results.
Congressman André Carson has held this seat for nearly two decades, yet families across Marion County still face rising housing costs, limited health care access, neighborhood underinvestment and fewer opportunities.
These aren’t new problems. But after nearly 20 years, people are asking why they still feel stuck.
Across Indianapolis, longtime neighborhoods are changing quickly. Costs are rising. Families who built these communities are being priced out. Young people are searching for opportunity and regularly finding it somewhere else. Parents are working harder and still falling behind.
This is where leadership should step in and fight for change.
Major decisions affecting our communities are made without meaningful public input. Data centers expand, utility costs climb, and corporate interests drive development, often at the expense of Black and Brown neighborhoods.
Take the proposed acquisition of AES Indiana by BlackRock. That decision is likely to shape utility costs for years to come. For families already under strain, rising energy bills are not theoretical — they’re immediate. These are the moments when strong advocacy matters.
People notice when leaders stay silent as corporate influence grows.
And people notice when campaign donations come from the very industries shaping these outcomes — utilities, finance, health care, and defense contractors.
That disconnect matters.
Because in communities that have historically fought for fair access, transparency and economic opportunity, corporate influence feels familiar — and not in a good way.
The closure of Martin University in 2023 is another example. For decades, Martin University served low-income and non-traditional students, many from Black communities across Indianapolis, by providing degree programs, adult education and workforce certifications. Its loss leaves a real gap — not just in education, but also in opportunities to advance careers and achieve economic mobility. When institutions like Martin disappear, the impact is felt among generations.
At the same time, immigrant and mixed-status families — many living inside diverse Black and Brown neighborhoods — are facing growing uncertainty around federal enforcement activity. These issues call for leadership that is present, engaged and visible in the community.
This district deserves leadership that meets those needs.
After two decades, voters deserve clear progress — leadership that is present in neighborhoods, listens to voices and defends local priorities against corporate interests.
The 7th District belongs to the people who live here — not any one family and not corporate donors.
Black voters in Indianapolis have always led change. They’ve organized, mobilized and pushed this district forward for generations. That leadership deserves to be matched by representation that moves with the same urgency.
Voters are ready for something different. Not just new faces, but new energy. Not just promises, but presence. Not just titles, but action.
“Safe” should never mean stuck. The 7th Congressional District is ready for that change — let’s make it happen.
Destiny Wells is running for U.S. Congress in Indiana’s 7th District. Learn more at wellsforindiana.com.
