Indiana Senate Republicans have dealt President Donald Trump another setback, declining to meet in December to redraw their state's congressional maps as he had requested.
The decision comes after months of pressure from Trump allies, including strategist Marty Obst, who led the group Fair Maps Indiana. However, a clear majority of Republican senators were not in favor of revisiting the maps, with 13 lawmakers expressing support while eight others publicly opposed redistricting.
Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray stated that there weren't enough votes within the GOP caucus to reopen the congressional map. Lawmakers had initially been expected to reconvene on December 1 for what would have been an unusual mid-decade attempt at redrawing all nine congressional districts.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun had called for lawmakers to meet in November to take up redistricting and argued that Republicans should add additional GOP-leaning districts before Democrats in other states completed their own mapping changes.
The decision marks a notable break from Trump's political operation as states prepare for the 2026 midterms. Turning down Trumpβs request makes Indiana the first Republican-led state to formally reject his redistricting push.
While some lawmakers, including State Sen Liz Brown, vowed to continue pushing for redistricting, others expressed relief at the decision not being met with a "cowardly" move. Democrats have praised Bray's announcement, saying that Washington insiders had pressured Governor Braun into attempting to rig Indianaβs congressional maps, calling it a "win for all of us."
Public polling cited by local sources suggests that Indiana voters also lean against revisiting the maps, with roughly a 2-to-1 margin opposing such a move. A University of Indianapolis political science professor said that surveys showed significant opposition from locals.
The decision comes after months of pressure from Trump allies, including strategist Marty Obst, who led the group Fair Maps Indiana. However, a clear majority of Republican senators were not in favor of revisiting the maps, with 13 lawmakers expressing support while eight others publicly opposed redistricting.
Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray stated that there weren't enough votes within the GOP caucus to reopen the congressional map. Lawmakers had initially been expected to reconvene on December 1 for what would have been an unusual mid-decade attempt at redrawing all nine congressional districts.
Indiana Governor Mike Braun had called for lawmakers to meet in November to take up redistricting and argued that Republicans should add additional GOP-leaning districts before Democrats in other states completed their own mapping changes.
The decision marks a notable break from Trump's political operation as states prepare for the 2026 midterms. Turning down Trumpβs request makes Indiana the first Republican-led state to formally reject his redistricting push.
While some lawmakers, including State Sen Liz Brown, vowed to continue pushing for redistricting, others expressed relief at the decision not being met with a "cowardly" move. Democrats have praised Bray's announcement, saying that Washington insiders had pressured Governor Braun into attempting to rig Indianaβs congressional maps, calling it a "win for all of us."
Public polling cited by local sources suggests that Indiana voters also lean against revisiting the maps, with roughly a 2-to-1 margin opposing such a move. A University of Indianapolis political science professor said that surveys showed significant opposition from locals.