Carson grew up in a rough neighborhood, and he credits that experience for shaping his policy views on issues like education, public safety and economic opportunity.

Senator Evan Bayh,[7] then-Senator Barack Obama, former Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, Marion County Sheriff Frank J. Anderson, then-Representative from Indiana's 8th district Brad Ellsworth,[8] and retired U.S. Representative Andy Jacobs, Jr. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi contributed $4,000 each from their own campaign funds and $10,000 each from their political action committees to the Carson campaign.

[9] Carson defeated Republican State Representative Jon Elrod and Libertarian Sean Shepard in the special election on March 11, 2008, securing 53% of the vote.

His hometown newspaper, The Indianapolis Star, has praised him for "going strong" in his first year in office, writing that Carson had proved "himself to be relentlessly positive and seriously hardworking.

[17] On March 20, 2010, Carson told reporters that health care protesters outside the Capitol hurled racial slurs at fellow Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) member John Lewis.

"[20] Carson declined calls to resign, reaffirming, "I stand on the truth of what I spoke", and clarified that his comments were directed at certain Tea Party leaders and not the movement as a whole.

[22] For the 118th Congress:[23] Carson voted to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, a $787 billion economic stimulus package, aimed at helping the economy recover from a deepening worldwide recession.

This act included increased federal spending for health care, infrastructure, education, various tax breaks and incentives, and direct assistance to individuals.

The bill is named for Jeremy Warriner, an Indianapolis resident who lost his legs when his defective Chrysler vehicle caught fire during a car accident.

He has also voted to pass legislation increasing oversight over the Troubled Asset Relief Program, limiting executive pay, reforming subprime mortgage markets and regulating the financial industry.

[28] Carson has voiced his support for legislation creating the Consumer Finance Protection Agency and monitoring systemic risk in the financial sector.

"[36] Carson has supported investment in the development of new technologies to reduce American dependence on foreign oil, create new jobs and begin to mitigate fossil fuels' adverse environmental effects.

He has opposed legislation to increase offshore drilling for oil or natural gas, instead promoting use of solar, wind, biofuel, biomass, and other renewable fuels.

[38] Carson is opposed to Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory — which are considered illegal under international human rights law and Article 49 of the Geneva Convention — calling them "illegitimate and a major barrier to peace".

[39] In July 2019, Carson supported the Global Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel by voting against a House resolution condemning it.

"[45] On October 25, 2023, Carson and eight other progressive Democrats (Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Jamaal Bowman, Cori Bush, Al Green, Summer Lee, Ilhan Omar, Delia Ramirez, and Rashida Tlaib), along with Republican Thomas Massie, voted against congressional bi-partisan non-binding resolution H. Res.

[28] In 2017, Carson attended a protest at Indianapolis International Airport against President Trump's executive order to temporarily place limits on immigration until better screening methods are devised.

"[50] On July 24, 2008, Carson voted to pass the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act (H.R.

On July 30, 2009, he signed a letter from the Congressional Progressive Caucus to House leadership, calling for a robust public option to be included in any health care reform bill.

2829) aims to attack the cycle of recidivism by ensuring prompt access to federal supplemental security income and Medicaid benefits for ex-offenders reentering society and addressing the gap in mental health services.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act would repeal federal laws that prevent drug felons from receiving TANF benefits.