The Indiana Senate voted 31 to 19 to reject a congressional redistricting proposal backed by former President Donald Trump that was intended to benefit Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections. The 40‑member chamber is controlled by Republicans, making this the first time a mid‑decade plan promoted by Trump has been turned down by members of his own party.
Republican state Sen. Spencer Deery said he opposed the measure on principle, telling colleagues that resisting federal overreach and opposing what he called “mid‑cycle gerrymandering” was consistent with conservative values. Democrats also opposed the plan, arguing it would weaken minority voting strength; they currently hold two of Indiana’s nine U.S. House seats.
Mid‑decade redistricting is uncommon—most states redraw congressional maps only after the decennial census. Trump has urged Republican‑led states to adopt new maps between censuses to blunt Democratic gains and improve GOP odds in 2026. Several Republican states, including Texas, Missouri and North Carolina, have pursued similar mid‑cycle changes.
The vote capped weeks of internal GOP turmoil in Indiana. Protesters outside the Statehouse chanted “vote no” and “Hoosiers fight fair.” Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican who supported the plan, and Trump warned they might back primary challenges to lawmakers who opposed the proposal. Some legislators reported receiving anonymous threats against themselves and their families amid the dispute.
Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch’s office did not take part in the vote; Vice President (state) Vance criticized Senate leadership on social media during the debate, alleging that Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray had privately told the administration he would not block redistricting while publicly signaling no votes. Bray ultimately voted against the measure.
Supporters of the plan framed it as a political necessity, noting that Democratic‑led states have previously redrawn maps to favor their party. Republican Sen. Mike Young argued that a handful of districts nationwide could decide which party controls Congress and urged colleagues to “play the game” to help keep the country in Republican hands.
The defeat in Indiana is a setback for the broader push to institute mid‑decade maps aimed at influencing the 2026 midterms and highlights divisions within the Republican Party over whether to pursue aggressive map changes outside the normal post‑census cycle.
Reporters: Ben Thorp, WFYI; Larry Kaplow, NPR.