The Indiana Senate voted 31-19 against a proposed congressional redistricting plan. This initiative, advocated by former President Donald Trump, was aimed at bolstering Republican electoral prospects in the 2026 midterm elections.
This vote marked the first instance where a redistricting effort supported by Mr. Trump was defeated by members of his own party. Republican-controlled legislatures in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina had previously enacted similar mid-decade redistricting measures.
During the debate, Republican State Senator Spencer Deery voiced opposition, stating it aligned with his conservative principles to resist federal government attempts to direct state policy. Indiana Democrats also opposed the plan, arguing it would dilute the voting power of minority communities. Redistricting is typically conducted early in the decade following the decennial census.
The vote occurred after weeks of political tension. Former President Trump had urged Republican-led states to undertake mid-decade redistricting to secure a Republican majority in the U.S. House. California Democrats had also initiated their own redistricting efforts in response.
Opposition within Indiana also came from some Republicans who reported that their constituents did not wish to alter the existing districts. Outside the legislative chamber, protestors were heard chanting against the proposal.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun, a Republican, had publicly supported Mr. Trump's call for redistricting. Both Mr. Trump and Governor Braun had reportedly indicated they would support primary challenges against senators who did not back the plan. Amid rising tensions surrounding the redistricting debate, Governor Braun and other Republican lawmakers stated they and their families had been subjected to anonymous threats.
Prior to the vote, Vice President Vance posted on social media, asserting that Republican Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray had assured the administration of his support but was secretly encouraging votes against the redistricting. Senator Bray subsequently voted against the plan.
Republicans who supported the redistricting cited potential political advantages in maintaining Republican control of the U.S. House. They also highlighted that some Democratic-led states had previously redrawn their districts to favor Democrats. Republican State Senator Mike Young conveyed that the decision could impact who controls Congress and the direction of the state and country.