Rep. Julia Carson, the first African American and the first woman to represent Indianapolis in Congress, died today at age 69. Her death comes just three weeks after Carson announced that had terminal lung cancer.

"Julia Carson overcame much and accomplished much, and devoted her life to helping other people do the same," Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat, said in a statement. "She was elected to important public offices, but never forgot who she was, where she came from or who she was there to serve."

Gov. Mitch Daniels (R) will call a special election to choose a replacement for the last year of Carson's term.