Meet the Democrats running to represent Indianapolis in Congress

An unusually competitive Democratic primary is underway in Indiana's 7th Congressional District, encompassing most of Marion County, as incumbent Rep. André Carson faces challenges from George Hornedo, Destiny Wells, and Denise Paul Hatch. While the election covers various issues, a significant point of unity among all candidates is their support for a moratorium on data center construction. Candidates cited widespread public concern and opposition to data center projects across Indiana, including protests and an alleged shooting at an Indianapolis city-county councilor's home over data center support. Denise Paul Hatch criticized the Indianapolis City-County Council's approval of a project in Martindale-Brightwood, questioning the benefits and potential health issues. Destiny Wells argued that local officials lack the tools for effective negotiations with data center developers. Rep. André Carson expressed support for the 'AI Data Center Site Selection and Transparency Act,' which would mandate early public disclosures on new data centers and address impacts like water consumption, cooling demands, and environmental effects. George Hornedo advocated for a federal moratorium, citing a similar call from Senators Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, viewing data centers as an early phase of the broader AI debate. This alignment reflects a growing political response to data center development in the region.