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Longtime Indiana Sen. Jean Leising on Wednesday announced she “will vote NO” on early congressional map changes, citing constituent opposition.
“I have heard from hundreds of constituents on this matter in the past two months, and they are overwhelmingly opposed to mid-cycle congressional redistricting — with only 6% supporting new districts,” Leising, R-Oldenburg, said in a written statement.
She joins five other Senate Republicans to publicly pan plans to reconfigure congressional maps created just four years ago. Thirteen have come out in support, but more than half of the 40-member caucus haven’t made their stances known publicly.
Indiana lawmakers will meet in December to consider creating more GOP U.S. House districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections — following a months-long pressure campaign by President Donald Trump’s administration and his supporters.
Indiana’s current map advantages Republicans 7-2, but proponents are gunning for a 9-0 version. Boundaries are typically adjusted every 10 years using new census data.
“Washington, D.C.-funded organizations in favor of redistricting are using extremely negative texts, videos and phone calls to try to win support for their cause,” Leising said.
“Some have even been sent via cell phone to students in my district, including my 14-year-old grandson,” she continued. “These groups do not have the best interest of my rural area or the state of Indiana at heart, and their methods are completely unacceptable. I have never supported negative campaigning.”
One influential Washington, D.C. group on Wednesday began airing another round of pro-redistricting TV ads in Indiana.
Also Wednesday, an Indiana-based organization with ties to Trump’s presidential campaigns launched a six-figure advertising effort targeting undeclared Republican members of the Indiana Senate. There’s more focus on that chamber because the Senate GOP’s caucus leader has repeatedly said the votes “aren’t there.” His counterpart in the Hosue has confirmed enough support to pass new maps.
Leising also called it “discouraging that we are being asked to vote for a map that we have never seen,” adding, “I would never vote YES on a bill that I did not know the contents of.” She hoped her constituents would understand “that we should not vote YES on completely unknown changes.”
“I will be listening to my constituents and will vote NO if there is a vote,” she concluded.
The longtime lawmaker has served in the Senate since 2008, as well as 1988-1996. She represents Decatur, Fayette, Ripley and Rush counties in southeast Indiana, along with portions of Franklin, Jennings and Shelby counties.
Leising is a retired nurse who works as a travel agent and farmer, according to her legislative biography. She lives on her farm in Oldenburg, and has three grown children and eight grandchildren.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
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