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After a monthslong back-and-forth involving Indiana legislative leaders, the Governor’s Office and the White House, the state Senate on Thursday voted 31-19 to reject a mid-cycle redistricting push.
Republicans have maintained that the controversial maps in House Bill 1032 were drawn expressly to help the GOP gain two seats in Congress, potentially giving Republicans a 9-0 sweep of the state. (Democrats currently hold two seats in Indiana: in District 1, in the northwestern part of the state, and District 7, which includes most of Marion County.)
Thursday’s vote came after a pressure campaign from President Donald Trump’s administration, which has pushed for Republican-controlled state legislatures to redraw their congressional maps with the hope of giving the GOP an edge in the 2026 midterm elections. District boundaries are usually adjusted based on the census every 10 years.
Members of the Indiana Legislative Black Caucus have criticized the maps as a racial gerrymandering effort meant to dilute the power of Black voters.
The bill cleared its first hurdle Monday with a 6-3 Senate committee vote, although one Republican joined Democrats in opposing it and a few others signaled they may vote against the final version. The state House passed the proposal last week, with 12 Republicans siding with Democrats in opposition.
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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