Indiana lawmakers in state House to convene session with redistricting
top of mind
[December 01, 2025]
By ISABELLA VOLMERT
Indiana House members are expected to push forward Monday with redrawing
the state’s congressional districts in Republicans’ favor, increasing
pressure on their defiant counterparts in the GOP-led Senate to meet
President Donald Trump’s demands.
Republicans who control the House chamber have said there's no doubt
that redistricting will pass that chamber. But the fate of any proposal
to emerge remains uncertain in the Senate. Republicans also control that
chamber but members of the caucus have resisted pressure to redistrict
for months.
Senate leadership recently backed off from previous intent not to meet
at all, agreeing to convene next Monday. But it's still unclear if
enough senators will back a new map.
No official map or legislation had been made public by late Friday.
Republicans hold seven of Indiana’s existing nine U.S. House seats.
Trump and other Republicans want to make the map 9-0 in the GOP's favor,
aiming to give the party two extra seats in the 2026 elections that will
determine control the U.S. House. Democrats only need to flip a handful
of seats to overcome the Republicans' current margin.
Indiana lawmakers have been under mounting pressure from the White House
to redistrict like Republicans in Texas, Ohio and North Carolina have.
To offset the GOP gains, Democrats in California and Virginia have moved
to do the same.
But some Indiana Republicans have been far more resistant. Republicans
in the state Senate rebelled against Republican Gov. Mike Braun in
November and said they would not attend a special session he ordered on
redistricting.
The chamber's top Republican, President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, at the time
said the Senate did not have the votes. A spokesperson for Bray’s office
did not respond Friday when asked if that is still the case.
[to top of second column]
|
Indiana Republican House Speaker Todd Huston leaves the podium
in the house chamber at the Statehouse, Jan. 8, 2024, in
Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings, File)
Meanwhile, Trump attacked Indiana senators on social media,
particularly Bray. He swore to endorse primary opponents of
defecting senators. A spree of threats and swatting attempts were
made against lawmakers who either said they do not support
redistricting or have not taken a stance. At least one lawmaker in
favor of redistricting and Braun were also threatened.
Last week, the House announced plans to convene in Indianapolis on
Monday.
“All legislative business will be considered beginning next week,
including redrawing the state’s congressional map,” House Speaker
Todd Huston said in a statement Tuesday.
The Indiana Senate, where a number of lawmakers objected to
leadership's refusal to hold a vote, then said members would
reconvene Dec. 8.
“The issue of redrawing Indiana’s congressional maps mid-cycle has
received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our
state,” Bray said in a statement Tuesday. He said the Senate will
finally decide the matter this month.
__
Volmert reported from Lansing, Michigan.
All contents © copyright 2025 Associated Press. All rights reserved |
