Indiana’s Republican-controlled Senate voted Dec. 11 to reject a redistricting plan that would have redrawn the state’s nine U.S. House districts and given Republicans full control of the delegation in the 2026 midterms.
The chamber voted the map down in a 19-31 vote, with 21 Republican senators joining all 10 Democrats in opposition, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported. Several senators had signaled for weeks that they were uneasy with a mid-cycle redraw, while President Donald Trump had pressured Indiana Republicans to pass the measure.
Some Republican critics cited heavy public pushback against the move, and others argued the legislature should not reopen the maps approved in 2021, according to the Indiana Capital Chronicle.
The plan would have flipped the 1st District, represented by Rep. Frank Mrvan, and the 7th District, held by Rep. André Carson. Republicans currently hold a 7-2 advantage in the state’s delegation.
The state House approved the bill 57-41 Dec. 5, and the Senate Elections Committee advanced the bill by a 6-3 vote Dec. 9, as CatholicVote previously reported. After the House vote, Trump launched an intense final lobbying push, urging lawmakers to eliminate the two Democrat-held districts.
In a Dec. 6 Truth Social post, Trump called on voters to join him in pressing Republicans to pass the new map, telling Indianans to push those who voted against it out of office.
“If they stupidly say no, vote them out of Office – They are not worthy – And I will be there to help!” he wrote.
In a Dec. 10 Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “If Republicans will not do what is necessary to save our Country, they will eventually lose everything to the Democrats.”
Republican Gov. Mike Braun reacted to the bill’s defeat in a post on X, saying he was “very disappointed that a small group of misguided State Senators have partnered with Democrats to reject this opportunity to protect Hoosiers with fair maps and to reject the leadership of President Trump.”
He added that “decisions like this carry political consequences” and said he would work with Trump “to challenge these people who do not represent the best interests of Hoosiers.”
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