Politics

Republican State Delivers Serious Blow to Trump’s Redistricting Push

By Jake Beardslee · November 15, 2025

Indiana Republicans delivered a significant setback to President Donald Trump’s national redistricting push on Friday, announcing that the state Senate will not reconvene in December to vote on new congressional maps. The decision sharply undermines Trump’s efforts to persuade GOP-led states to redraw districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Indiana is now the second Republican-controlled state in recent weeks to resist the White House’s pressure campaign. The move dramatically reduces the likelihood of passing a new map before the state’s early-February filing deadline for congressional candidates, effectively halting any redistricting momentum for the foreseeable future.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said Republicans simply lacked the votes to advance a new map despite months of lobbying. In a statement, he explained, “Over the last several months, Senate Republicans have given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state’s congressional maps. Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December.”

Trump and Vice President JD Vance had mounted a sustained effort since August to push Indiana lawmakers to act. Vance made two trips to Indianapolis to personally meet with legislators, and state leaders traveled to Washington for meetings with Trump in the Oval Office. But many Indiana Republicans have publicly signaled discomfort with an aggressive gerrymander, even though the current 7–2 congressional map already favors the GOP.

Republican Gov. Mike Braun had pressed the legislature to adopt new lines, urging lawmakers to “do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps.” He called for a special session last month, but legislators instead scheduled an unusual early convening in December tied to the 2026 regular session in an attempt to avoid the cost of a full special session. With Senate Republicans refusing to move forward, that maneuver now leaves no workable path to redraw districts before midterms.

Lawmakers will next meet in January when the regular session begins, but the early-February deadline gives them virtually no time to consider a sweeping redistricting overhaul.

Trump has encouraged Republican-led states nationwide to adopt new congressional maps as part of a broader strategy to expand the party’s House majority. Democrats need only a net gain of three seats to reclaim control in 2026, a midterm environment that historically works against the president’s party. Trump has hoped mid-decade map-drawing would help counter that trend.

Several states have heeded Trump’s call. Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio have all enacted maps designed to solidify Republican advantages. Meanwhile, California voters approved maps expected to benefit Democrats, and Democrats in Virginia advanced a constitutional amendment that could open the door to new districts.

The redistricting battle intensified further this week when the Justice Department sued to block California’s newly approved congressional map, setting up a legal showdown in the nation’s most populous state.

Resistance to mid-decade redistricting has emerged in both parties. Indiana’s decision follows Kansas, where Republican House Speaker Dan Hawkins said lawmakers lacked support to call themselves into special session. Democratic-led states have also stalled efforts. Illinois lawmakers refused to take up redistricting after civil rights groups warned a new map could weaken Black representation, even after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries personally appealed for action. In Maryland, Democratic Senate President Bill Ferguson rejected pursuing new maps, cautioning that an aggressive gerrymander could provoke retaliation from GOP states. Democratic Gov. Wes Moore has kept the door open by forming a commission to study the issue.

Braun repeated his call for lawmakers to act, saying, “Our state senators need to do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps. Hoosiers deserve to know where their elected officials stand on important issues.” But with Bray’s announcement, Trump’s redistricting strategy now faces growing resistance and a rapidly closing window.