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The Indiana Black Legislative Caucus on Monday decried the likely harms of early redistricting on the state’s Black and other non-white voters.
“Mid-decade redistricting is unprecedented in Indiana,” Rep. Earl Harris Jr., the IBLC’s chair, told reporters. “It undermines the democratic process and threatens to silence voters, especially in communities of color.”
The news conference came as Indiana Republicans — and President Donald Trump — build support for redrawing the state’s blue congressional districts red ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
The Statehouse’s GOP supermajorities drew the current maps in 2021, using 2020 census data. District boundaries aren’t due for updates until after the 2030 census.
Republicans hold seven of the seats. Democrats have two.
“Both of these congressmen, not only were they elected, but they have been reelected, which tells you what the voters want,” Harris said of U.S. Reps. Frank Mrvan and André Carson. “Communities of color in Gary, Indianapolis and Fort Wayne make up more than half of Indiana’s Black population. Their voices are not optional.”
“Redistricting isn’t just a map-making exercise — it’s a power-shaping decision,” Harris, D-East Chicago, continued. “And when that power is manipulated, it’s communities of color (that) will pay the price in representation, in resources and in respect.”
Mrvan’s northwest district is the most competitive in Indiana.
But Carson’s Indianapolis-area seat is the state’s safest, according to the latest edition of the Cook Partisan Voting Index.
“Redrawing this district risks diluting Black voting power through tactics like ‘cracking,’ which splits communities across districts, and ‘packing,’ which concentrates minority voters to minimize their influence,” Harris said.
Although Indiana leans Republican, caucus members argued that Hoosier Democrats should still be represented in Congress.
“Indiana may get called red on election night, (but) there are a significant number of Democrats in the state of Indiana, and we need to make sure our congressional representation is proportional to the vote,” Rep. Cherrish Pryor, D-Indianapolis, said.
Almost 59% of Indiana voters went for Trump in the 2024 presidential election, according to the state’s results webpage. About 40% chose Democratic candidate Kamala Harris. Two percent cast ballots for write-in, Libertarian or other minor party candidates.
IBLC members said they’re already preparing to take action if early redistricting goes forward — but declined to share details since “we’re still working out things,” according to Harris.
But mobilizing voters will be part of the response, said Sen. Greg Taylor, D-Indianapolis, who hoped high turnout could surmount new lines.
The caucus consists of more than a dozen Black lawmakers, most from the state House but some from the Senate. All are Democrats.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization that covers state government, policy and elections.
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