2026 Voter Guide: Indiana's 7th Congressional District

Caroline Beck: Well, thank you for joining me today, Congressman Carson.

André Carson: What an honor, thank you.

Beck: So, for my first question I have for you today is just, if elected, what are your top policy priorities? 

Carson: Well, my top priorities obviously have been taking on Donald Trump. We've done that work through activism, litigation, and legislation. Since I've been in office, I have, at the earlier part of the year, it was around 22 bills.

Now we're up to like 27 bills that have been passed. Which you have members who have served far longer than me, far older than I am. I'm beneath the average in terms of age, who haven't even had one bill passed, and I think that that's quite of an accomplishment.

We've brought over a billion dollars back to Indianapolis and counting. And you know, I, I just introduced the, the Summer Meals for Kids Act that will ensure that children are fed during the summer.

Also, I want to continue to fight back on ICE's excess. I want to continue to preserve Medicare and Medicaid, and the billions of dollars that have been brought back to the state are very critical for infrastructure, for education, and for economic development. We have a $2 billion plus surplus in Indiana, but we are still seeing Medicaid cuts that are impacting Hoosier families. We want to continue that fight.*

And as a member of not only the Intelligence Committee and China Committee, I'm a member of the Transportation Committee. And God willing, I win my election, I will be the chair of the Aviation Subcommittee.

We have the number one airport in the country, 14 years in a row. My bigger dream is to, through the work of the Transportation Committee, to bring resources back and ultimately to have a high-speed rail system coming from Indy to, to Louisville, to even Chicago or St. Louis. Stay tuned.

*Editor's note: Indiana ended the 2026 fiscal year with a budget surplus of about $1.86 billion.

Beck: Well, many voters told us that they don't think that today's politicians are really listening to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and how would you address that concern? 

Carson: Well, that's a common sentiment that you know I don't particularly disagree with. There are many elected officials. Obviously, we don't want to think in absolutes. That's like saying all educators are failing our kids. That would be unfair to educators because there are many who are influencing our children.

There are many who have had an imprint on me. There are bad actors and bad apples within the political landscape, but there are folks like myself and others, federally, statewide, and locally, who go to work every day with a sense of mission and purpose, along with their wonderful staff, to bring back resources for their constituents.

And so, I understand the sentiment, given the vitriol, given the xenophobia, given the Islamophobia, given the homophobia, given the racism that is pervasive on all sides. How people would feel distressed and disillusioned, but there are many of us who are working with activists, who are working with constituents and making sure our messages are heard and letting folks know that the activism is working.

And, through the activism, we're getting better legislation and even litigation. We have scores of lawsuits against the Trump administration, and we're winning many of those lawsuits.

Beck: Well, another big, you know, topic amongst voters right now is data centers. What is your position on data center development in Indiana? 

Carson: Well, you know, I'm, I'm against data centers that don't include protections for workers and families, and, and and local communities. In many ways, data centers-perhaps some would argue, are unavoidable.

But if that is the case, if they're going to come into communities and drain our resources, causing utility rates to soar, there must be limitations on these data centers and entities. That's why I'm on a bill with Bernie Sanders and A.O.C. to make sure that these data centers have restrictions.

And of course, I love organized labor. I'm a labor baby, but because of my position, I've been banned from the IBEW. My friends and brothers and sisters, I'm not allowed to come on the premises. They're very upset with me right now, but I love them dearly. But I have to stand on principle on behalf of my constituents.

Beck: OK, and are you at this point at all in favor of a moratorium in Indianapolis on a data centers?

Carson: I am. I am until they can show us that their presence in our community will yield a positive result.

Beck: Many voters also told us they're struggling to afford food right now, housing, and health care. If elected, how would you help address those issues? 

Carson: Well, look, the cuts that we're seeing statewide have had a devastating effect on Hoosier families. My, my, my effort is to push the Trump administration to regain the House first of all, so we can have some levity in line of the vision, of the, of the very complicated founding fathers.

We want a series of capital infusions in places like Indianapolis, in places like Fort Wayne, Anderson, Frankfort, Indiana, Lebanon, Green Castle and other places that spur economic development. Indiana, unfortunately, leads the country in food deserts.*

Why? Because we don't have the kinds of investments that protect small businesses and can guarantee that Hoosier families don't have to fight to find a meal. In some places, the only place, if folks have to go miles to get to a grocery store, well, there are gas stations and truck stops. That's unacceptable to me.

So I have legislation that will help NGOs and nonprofits offer food to citizens and constituents at half the cost, but in a way that is readily available, so folks don't have to trek to get the needs that they, that they deserve. Because if you go into a gas station or a truck stop, the markup is insane, and the offerings aren't very healthy.

*Editor's note: There is no single official government list. In 2025, the Annie E. Casey Foundation Mississippi, New Mexico and Arkansas lead the country. Food security is a problem in Indiana, IU Health found one in seven residents struggle daily to access food. 

Beck: immigration policy is another big concern on voters' minds. What is your stance on current federal immigration policy currently happening, and what do you hope to instill if you are elected? 

Carson: Well, I think under the, under the Trump administration, our current immigration policy is riddled with xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment.

Certainly, there are national security concerns, human trafficking concerns, narco concerns with criminal enterprises and cartels, as a member of the Intelligence Committee, as the only member of Congress who has worked and served in an intelligence fusion center, I'm deeply concerned about preserving our national security apparatus.

On the other end, I don't think that we could use national security as a cover to undermine the foundation of this country, which was built on the backs of African slaves and immigrants, and, and so in a very real sense, if we look at the ingenuity coming from the immigrant community, you go to any immigrant community, especially the ones here, and many of these folks are starting businesses and they're hiring Hoosiers and putting Hoosiers back to work.

They're putting Americans back to work, so we need a comprehensive system that respects the process properly, but that will provide the kinds of protections for folks coming to seek a better life and who are here doing things the right way.

Many of whom are asylum seekers, many of whom are refugees, and we're honoring our international commitment to these, to these folks, and to these countries in a way that will still make Americans feel safe, so that we don't buy into the rhetoric that they're taking our jobs, as it were, but in a way that provides them opportunities and safety for themselves and Americans as well.

Beck: We've got about two minutes left here, but another question is: You know, what are specific issues pertaining to the seventh district that you would like to address in your next term? 

Carson: Economic development-that's a big one for us. Small businesses employ 50% of our population, not just the Hoosier population, but the American population. Making sure that those small businesses have access and opportunities to federal contracting.

Under the Trump administration, we have seen the dismantling of DEI, if you will, so-called DEI, veteran-owned businesses, black-owned businesses, Latino-owned businesses, women-owned businesses of all races. Their contracts have been decimated, and we know a lot of wealth and business sustainability is created through city, state, and federal contracting.

We want to preserve that contracting pipeline so we could have capable companies, capable Hoosier companies, many of whom are Black and Brown, veteran-owned and women-owned, to have these opportunities to not just put Hoosiers back to work, but to spur economic development and maintain economic development in the state of Indiana, in the city of Indianapolis, in the 7th Congressional District, to demonstrate our global formidability as a world-class city.

Beck: OK, we've got about 30 seconds left, but I want to make sure I ask about the Iran War. You know, what do you see as Congress's role in finding a resolution to this, this ongoing conflict? 

Carson: Well, the president has gone beyond the 60-day window because of his recent actions.*

It has kicked in another 60 days. I don't think that that is a sustainable strategy. Not only for our military, but for our country, for our global partners, many of whom the relationships have been frayed with our Five Eyes partners and our partners in the region. I think that we need to come to a solution.

This war has caused gas prices to skyrocket. It has caused food prices to skyrocket, in a way that the president has not made his case before the American people, let alone Congress, which is outlined in the Constitution.

We have to get back to regular order, so the American people can have some sense of trust in the process. You talked in the beginning of the discussion. People don't trust politicians, and this is why we're seeing excess, we're seeing tyranny, and we're seeing a dictatorship co-signed by the Republican Congress.

*Editor's note: This interview was conducted on Aug. 6. 

Beck: OK, thank you so much, Congressman.

Carson: What an honor. Thank you.

Beck: Well, thank you, Patrick, for being here today. 

McAuley: Absolutely happy to be here. 

Beck: So my first question for you is: So, if elected, what are some of your main policy priorities that you want to enact?

McAuley: Yeah, absolutely. We've been focused strictly on local issues: homelessness, housing, public safety, and jobs, and what we are looking at doing right away is helping people build credit.

So people that are living in Section Eight right now, we want to help them to get, get into positions where they can own a home, and transition to that period.

And then when it comes to jobs, you know that's another priority right now that we have to work on is, we have to get people into positions where, you know, if they're struggling right now in, with something that's going on in their life or they're in a situation, you know, we have to put them in, into positions where they can have a great job.

And so that will be another one, homelessness, helping people get off the streets, that's another one we've talked about, and then public safety. You know, young people right now are just, you know, struggling. I'd say, you know, we've had youth gun violence has shot up since 2008. It's, it's increased over 900%.*

And again, no one's fault, but I would say that we have to start to address these things right away.

*Editor's note: WFYI cannot find evidence supporting this number. After a Gun Violence Reduction Strategy launched in 2022, shooting and murders in Indianapolis saw consecutive years of decline. This year the city expanded the strategy to focus on those 17-years-old and younger.

Beck: How would you want to address youth gun violence issues? 

McAuley: Just working with local public safety. We've looked into some great programs. One of them is called GNND. It's called Good Neighbor Next Door. This is a federal program where it incentivizes us to go into local communities and create community land trusts, and then with those community land trusts, we can then, you know, take a home that's foreclosed, tax foreclosed home.

We can reinvest into that using municipal resources, federal resources, and then we can then sell that home back to a fireman, a policeman, a teacher, you know, someone that is a local community member that can start to rebuild these communities, start to heal these communities. That's, that's, that's probably the first program I would look into. It's called GNND.

Beck: OK, well, many voters also told us that they don't think politicians listen to their constituents. Why do you think that is, and, and how would you address that concern? 

McAuley: You know, this whole campaign has been built off of listening. I mean, that has been my number one priority from the start, you know we've, we've been at this for about two and a half years, going into communities east, west, northside, just learning from constituents about what the real issues are.

You know, we put out a survey in 2025. We had over 400 responses on it, talking about all those priorities I mentioned prior to this, but even more on infrastructure, on how we can create better leadership in our communities.

What styles of leadership do people want? You know, do people feel safe in their communities? Is there a feeling of unity? So, we have, we have a very very solid understanding of what this district needs out of a leader right now. And, and that has been what has taken us to this point. 

Beck: OK, well data centers is another big concern on a lot of voters' minds. What is your position on data center development in Indiana? 

McAuley: Yeah, I think in Indiana, you know, that's a great question. When it comes to this district, I've been pretty black and white when it comes to listening to constituents. People are upset. You have, you have to listen to your constituents.

That's my number one one goal as a U.S. Congressman. You know there are data centers that can use different types of technology. You know water. You know that are environmentally friendly, energy friendly. But when it comes to putting data centers in residential communities, that's something that we have to get away from. I'm just, that's just not, that's not a priority for me.

And, and, and that's what I've heard from constituents. You know, that's not even a decision that I would make. That's been based off of what people have said in the community.

Beck: Well, and many voters also told us they're just struggling to afford food. You know, basic necessities, housing, health care right now. If elected, how would you want to help address those issues?

McAuley: Yeah, you know, I think a lot of it has to do with the federal budget. I mean, I've seen some of these appropriations, these documents that are at the federal level, and I got to be honest, you know, they're a mess.

I mean, I hate, I'm not trying to be negative, but it's the truth… you know, in some of these these different committees, we have different federal programs that are getting federal funding for the exact same thing for different types of accounts, so we need to hone in the spending, and, and redirect it to different parts of, of our our nation, and I think it's the cities.

I mean, that's where I think that the fight is right now, and that's where we need to go, is, we need to focus there.

Beck: Where do you think government is spending too much right now?

McAuley: I think humanitarian aid, that's one I've looked into. Those accounts are a mess. They are just, there's over, there's billions of dollars being dumped into multiple accounts that go towards the same exact thing, and it's like, that's just, that's, that's unacceptable. I would say for, for federal leadership.

Beck: Well, you know, immigration policy is another big issue right now. What, what is your stance on the current federal immigration policy, and what are policy proposals around immigration that you would like to enact? 

McAuley: Yeah. I mean, look, I am, I am from this district. OK. I went to North Central High School, on the North Side. You know, I grew up around all different types of people, all different cultures, religions, you name it.

So when it comes to immigration, I am completely open to cultures, to accepting people into this country that want to come here and find opportunity. That's, that's the whole point. We're, we're a nation formed off of immigrants, so we have to continue to have that mindset.

So you know, when I would get into, in a federal seat, I would have that mindset. You know, I would, I would create policy, work with local, state, federal leaders to you know stop this, this violence, stop the unit, stop the, the divisiveness. We have to unify around the future of this country. 

Beck: a lot of you know people have concerns about how ICE has been used by the federal government. What, what are your thoughts about how that's gone? 

McAuley: Yea, again, it's the violence. It's the violence. That's the one setback. You know, I don't, I don't agree with harming citizens. I don't agree with, you know, wearing, wearing bandanas over your face.

I think we have to look more professional. That's just not how you roll. So I do stand behind, you know, I think we do have to have a standard. We do have to have a standard for letting people into this country, but we have to do it in a way that stands with the values that this country was built off of, and that was hardworking people, you know?

It was people that, that worked together, that collaborated, that had a vision, right? And not, not pushed, pushed people away.

Beck: Well, what, what are specific issues pertaining to the seventh district that you would like to address if elected? 

McAuley: Yeah. I mean, it's the first, the first four I mentioned. I mean, my top two right now are jobs and homes.

You know, we, we have lost 15,000 jobs in the skilled trades since 2008. So since since my opponent's been in office, we've lost 15,000 jobs, and so we have to start to rejuvenate, regenerate young people into these, these trades, into these skilled trades positions, so that you know if they don't want to go to college, that's fine, right?*

But we have to help people build personal wealth. We have to help young people try to get into, you know, parts of life where they can build a family and, and raise a family here.

And, and same with housing. You know, I think when it comes to, you just, just drive around the district. I mean, drive around, you know, 38th and Capitol or 38th and Meridian. I mean, there is a dilapidated home every half block. There's a dilapidated retail center every half block, and I think it's just a testament to where we are.

The past 20 years in leadership in this district, no one has had oversight. There has been no, there's been no strict oversight on where we are taking our communities. Where are we taking the next 20 years? And that's, that's why my campaign is building the next generation. We're here to build. You know, we're here to build, build up communities.

We're here, here to build people, and give them opportunity and, and, and create that vision, right? To create a sense that we are going to move forward with positivity, with unity and togetherness, and, and do that having values. 

*Editor's note: WFYI found no record of that number. Indiana University's Kelley School of Business Indian Business Research Center reports Indianapolis' economy since the pandemic is advancing at "impressive speed when compared to the rest of the nation." It includes an increase in construction and manufacturing jobs. 

Beck: OK. We've got a little like a minute and a half left, but I wanted to ask you about election security. Do you think Indiana's elections are secure, and what kind of policies would you enact to make them more secure? 

McAuley: I do, Yeah, I've worked the polls. They're pretty, pretty black and white again. I mean, you show up with your ID. If your ID doesn't match the address, you typically have to go back to the precinct that you were registered in to vote there.

You know, my, my biggest thing with ID, with elections, is I do think we need to have IDs. I do believe that's, that's a hot topic right now. You know, we got to protect our elections. We have to give, give the incentive to vote to, to citizens.

And if, if people that you know have visas or are immigrated here, we have to help transition them to become citizens so they can vote. Because that's you know it's America. That's what we got to do here.

Beck: Well, I, and, I also wanted to make sure I asked too, since you are the Republican candidate running, well — and this is a very heavily Democratic stronghold district — how, how do you expect to to make moves to gain ground in this kind of district? 

McAuley: I'm going to point out the issues. Yeah, that's my goal, and, and I've said them already. You know, 15,000 jobs, over 900 million dollars in annual wages. That's $100,000 per person, including children in this district.*

So you know we have to start to point the problems out before they continue to get worse. And you know I, it even comes down to, to local leadership.

I mean you have to drive around the district and look at some of these unfinished projects. You know the mayor just announced like a $2.7 billion budget for next year.** I mean, we have to, we have to hold them accountable. 

*Editor's note: WFYI could not confirm these figures. 

**Editor's note: Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett's proposed budget is $1.9 billion. 

Beck: OK, great, and that takes us right up to it. So thank you so much again for your conversation. 

McAuley: Great, I appreciate ya'll.

Caroline Beck: Well, thank you again for coming in today. I really appreciate you coming in to talk with us for this important race. My first question is: If elected, what are your top priorities, policy priorities? 

James Sceniak: I mean, to serve my constituents, and what I'm looking at is we want more constitutional security with privacy. We want lower taxes, and then just representation that looks like more the average Hoosier and protection for our workforce in Indiana.

So those are some of the top priorities, along with again, this goes back to several other runs, but really taking care of our veterans and looking at how to do that better from the Washington D.C. side. 

Beck: OK, can you get more specific about what you want to do with veterans? 

Sceniak: I labeled it Vet Care. It might go through some rebranding, but essentially, it opens up their healthcare system to be able to have more choice within their healthcare system, and they're not locked into certain procedures. Looking at, they've served our country, so we, we need to do better serving them in their healthcare.

And we see a lot of issues, whether it's homeless or whether it's mental issues that I think need to be better taken care of. So, looking at how to do that with the VA, but also opening the system up in kind of a libertarian, more freeing, system for them. 

Beck: OK, well, you know, many voters told us that they don't think that politicians listen to their constituents these days. So, what, why, why do you think that is to begin with, and how would you address that kind of concern? 

Sceniak: Well, a number of things. One, it's just a disconnect from Washington D.C. when their highest donors come from large corporations, come from special interest groups, and so one of the things that you know, as a libertarian, I want to make sure that I am responsible to my constituents, and that's why I only really take donations from private voters.

And then, additionally to that, I think a lot of them have served in Washington D.C. a long time, so they forget what it is to put food on the table, to not be sure about your hours because Medicaid might have changed the way you're billing or those practices.

So they forget that everyday life does happen for Hoosiers, and so I think both of those, in combination, is really where the disconnect is happening. 

Beck: OK, a lot of you know voters also said that data centers is top of mind right now. What, what are, what is your position on data center development in Indianapolis, in District Seven? 

Sceniak: We have to look at it from a two sided issue. The first side is we are advancing in technology. Almost everybody I know is using AI in some form, including jobs to become more efficient, my job included.

And so I think you know we do have to look at what that looks like. But the concern that I'm hearing over and over to constituents is, I don't want this strictly into my neighborhood. What's the cost on water going to be? What is the utility, and why are they getting certain tax cuts? And so all those questions really need to be answered.

I don't think big corporations should get tax cuts. I think you know the data centers should be paying their fair share. I also believe that we shouldn't be putting it next to a neighborhood. And if, if it does affect quality of water, we really need to protect our resources in that area. So it's not, there's a lot of nuance to this question, and it's not a straightforward question.

But I think we can protect individuals from having to deal with the consequences of data centers by finding better spots for them and still advancing technology in the long, in the long run. 

Beck: OK, so are, are you at all, like, flat out in favor of a ban or moratorium on data centers at this point?

Sceniak: I would, I would just like to look at how we are doing the lay-in permits and getting more specific where, where those data centers can actually be put.

Beck: Many voters also told us that they are struggling to afford food and housing and healthcare right now. If elected, how would you help them address those issues? 

Sceniak: I feel it. My grocery bill for a couple meals was $108 the other day. It's absolutely ridiculous. What we're having to pay to feed our families. So in order to look at this, it's, it's a larger economic issue.

And I think the number one thing we got to really pay attention to is inflation, because inflation is essentially just another tax, and it makes your dollar become less valuable. So Washington D.C. by putting us into the astronomical debt that they have, has not done Hoosiers favors. We continue on that pattern, whether it's the Republicans or Democrats, they continually fund the spending.

So we really want to cut that number with inflation. And then additionally, just making sure that when we're looking at tax, reducing taxes for Hoosiers, we can get more money in your wallet, and that's by making, making sure that we're not giving the tax credits to the businesses. We're giving it to the individuals who deserve it.

Beck: You mentioned, like, inflation and you know the, the national debt that we have right now. What, what is your idea of how to tackle the national debt problem? 

Sceniak: Well, I mean, it's, it's kind of like a household budget. If you're overspending, you have to look at how to reduce that. And I think a lot of people immediately are like, well, what about this benefit or what about this benefit?

There are so many ways to cut back a budget that wouldn't even be noticed by the average individual. You can look at cheaper ways to get materials. You can look at cheaper ways to import. Taking a look at things like the Jones Act and where it's harder to import certain things because of it, and that act doesn't even need to be present anymore.

So there are a lot of ways to cut this funding, and I really like the Rand Paul Penny Plan, and that it just looks at simple ways to reduce each budget. And if we do that over numerous years, we can get this country back on track.

And I want to see my future generations, my nephews and nieces to be able to succeed in this economy, and the trajectory we're at right now is going to put a greater burden on them. So I wanted to see that reversed and corrected. 

Beck: What is your stance on the current federal immigration policy, and what, what are some policy proposals around immigration that you have? 

Sceniak: I consider myself more of a Reagan on the immigration, and we're a city on a hill, and we should be shining for immigrants. Yes, there needs to be a process of how to get in, but it doesn't need to be this, this crazy thing that we have to manipulate through with tons of money and tons of lawyers just to be able to get citizenship. I'm a fourth generation immigrant.

Most of the people here that I know personally can track back to a certain degree of where their, their family immigrated. So we have to be welcoming to those who want the American life, who want to have that prosperity and want to succeed in America.

Diversity is one of our strongest points in America. So the tactics we're using with ICE, absolutely unconstitutional. We have to look at, we do have to have borders. We do have to have security, but we have to look at the enforcement. And we're on track with our constitutional right, with the birthright citizenship.

I was pleased to see that Supreme Court ruling, but we, we can't play this game where we just pick favorites of who comes. Many people can bring many benefits from many areas of the world to make a greater America. 

Beck: OK, we've got about two minutes left, but I wanted to ask you as well. Like, what are specific issues pertaining to the 7th District that you would really like to address if you are elected?

Sceniak: The 7th District is unique. It's unique to Indiana. It's one of the blue districts. And what I think we really see, a lot of is economic issues. And I think we can address those better from a Washington D.C. perspective.

I think the infrastructure issues in Indiana need to be looked at, and we have a lot of direct things happening in Marion County that I want to see addressed from the Washington D.C. side. And also work with local officials to see what we can do to better serve, serve the constituents. 

Beck: Well, one last question I wanted to ask you too. You know, the, the U.S. House just recently approved a resolution to remove the U.S. forces from Iran.* How would you have voted in that kind of circumstance?

Sceniak: I have always been pro-peace. We do need a strong national defense, but we don't need to be interfering with our troops everywhere.

And what I really look at is, I come through that generation that many were sent to Iraq and, and coming back with those burdens, and that goes back to what I was talking with veterans and the consequences. So we see long term consequences with war and, and those ar e with our veterans.

Those are economic things, and so I think we really need to focus on a strong defense, but also not immediately intervening overseas. So I would have voted to remove the troops from Iran, and that would be my general policy, on most, most, most of the conflicts around the world.

*Editor’s note: This interview was conducted on July 29, 2026.