The Indiana Senate voted 31-19 to reject a congressional redistricting proposal backed by former President Donald Trump intended to boost Republican prospects in the 2026 midterm elections. The defeat came in a chamber where 40 of the 50 members are Republicans and marks the first time members of Trump’s own party in Indiana have blocked his push for a mid-decade remap. Republican lawmakers in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina have pursued similar mid-cycle redistricting efforts.
Republican state Sen. Spencer Deery said his opposition was rooted in conservative principles, arguing during debate that mid-cycle gerrymandering expands federal influence over the state and that he would resist any attempt to let the federal government dictate state maps. Democrats also opposed the plan, saying it would weaken the voting power of minority communities. Typically, Indiana and other states redraw districts soon after the decennial census.
The vote capped weeks of turmoil, with some Republican senators telling colleagues their constituents did not want current districts altered. Protesters outside the chamber chanted “vote no” and “Hoosiers fight fair.” Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican who supported the redistricting push and aligned with Trump on the effort, and Trump have both threatened to back primary challengers against senators who oppose the plan. Braun and other Republican lawmakers said they and their families have received anonymous threats amid the dispute.
During the debate, Vance wrote on X that Republican Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray had told the Trump-aligned administration he would not fight the redistricting drive, but also encouraged colleagues to vote against it; Vance added that such perceived dishonesty should not be rewarded. Bray ultimately voted no.
Supporters of the map argued the change was a necessary political move to help Republicans retain control of the U.S. House, noting that Democratic-led states have redrawn maps in ways that favored Democrats. Republican state Sen. Mike Young warned that a small number of districts will determine control of Congress and urged lawmakers to “play the game” to protect the state and the party.
Reporting by Ben Thorp of WFYI and Larry Kaplow of NPR.