Rep. Julia Carson only passed away yesterday, but Republican politicians in Indiana are already making moves to vie for her Congressional seat.

Political insiders are saying in local media reports that state Rep. Jon Elrod, R-Indianapolis, thinks he may have a chance of winning in the heavily Democratic district, and GOP analysts “consider the seat worth watching” after Republican Greg Ballard’s upset of Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson, a Democrat.

Sen. John Kerry won the district with 58 percent of the vote in 2004. Carson’s grandson, Democrat Andre Carson, is considered an early favorite as a replacement for his grandma.

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Rep. Julia Carson passed away today at the age of 69. She announced in November that she was suffering from terminal lung cancer and didn’t plan to seek re-election. She’s been away from the House since September after visiting a doctor.

Carson was the first African American and the first woman elected to represent Indianapolis, Indiana in Congress. She was known as an outspoken critic of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Rest in peace, Julia.

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Julia Carson, a respected House Democrat from Indiana, announced over the weekend that she has a form of lung cancer that cannot be cured. She added today that she will serve out the remainder of her term, but will not seek re-election. Replacements, including her grandson, are already being considered for the position.

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