INDIANAPOLIS -- U.S. Rep. Andre Carson fought off seven challengers to win Tuesday's Democratic primary in the 7th Congressional District and earn the right to seek his first full term in November.

The win by Carson (pictured), who succeeded his late grandmother in a special election just eight weeks ago, sets up a rematch with state Rep. John Elrod of Indianapolis, who won the Republican nomination for the seat Tuesday.

With 98 percent of precincts reporting, Carson had 46 percent of the vote. Former state health commissioner Woody Myers had 24 percent; state Rep. David Orentlicher had 21 percent; and state Rep. Carolene Mays had 8 percent.

Other Democratic challengers -- Joseph Stockett III, Frances Williams, Larry Ledford and Pierre Pullins -- had 1 percent or less.

"As Democrats, we fought a tough one. We were divided, but now it's time to come together," Carson said to applause Tuesday night at his election-night headquarters on Indianapolis' north side.

Myers put more than $1.6 million of his own money into his campaign to help pay for advertising.

"I have really no regrets at all, other than the fact that we came in second instead of first," he said Tuesday night.

With the same precincts reporting, Elrod had 88 percent of the vote in the Republican primary. Catherine Ping had 11 percent and Lawrence Shouse had 4 percent.

Carson defeated Elrod 54 percent to 43 percent in a special election March 11, allowing him to finish the term of his grandmother Julia Carson, who died in December after a battle with cancer.

Andre Carson, 33, was the second Muslim ever elected to Congress. U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., was the first and still is in office.

The 7th Congressional District covers most of Indianapolis.