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State Sen. Liz Brown, a Fort Wayne Republican who strongly supported the failed effort to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps, has been removed as chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The move became apparent Tuesday when Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, an opponent of mid-decade redistricting, announced committee assignments for the 2026 session.
Sen. Cyndi Carrasco, an Indianapolis Republican and general counsel for the University of Indianapolis, was appointed as the new judiciary chair. She voted for the redistricting bill the Senate ultimately defeated earlier this month.
Brown said in a post on X that the chairmanship shuffle shows Bray is “utilizing his right to redefine Senate leadership after a tumultuous Fall.”
Brown said the Senate has rebuilding to do to “repair communication and trust with voters” following the Legislature’s failed attempt to redraw the state’s congressional maps despite calls from President Donald Trump and Gov. Mike Braun to do so.
“It is apparent that effects linger from our failure to draw fair maps that would promote conservative Hoosier voices in Washington,” she added.
Bray did not respond to questions about the reason Brown was removed as chair. But he said in a written statement that Carrasco “has proven herself a thoughtful and competent attorney and lawmaker, and I’m confident she’ll lead the committee well.”
Earlier, Brown voluntarily quit her post as assistant majority floor leader following the failure of the redistricting bill.
But redistricting isn’t the only issue in which Brown has disagreed with fellow Republicans.
She and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita have had a very public feud over state immigration policy.
He blamed her for blocking his favored legislation last session. He claimed she did so because she has an “illegal alien” in her family. She strongly denied the allegation and filed a complaint with the state’s attorney disciplinary commission, arguing that Rokita violated rules prohibiting lawyers from making false statements.
The Indiana Capital Chronicle reported last week that the commission decided not to take action in the case but that Brown will keep pressing the issue.
Carrasco said she is honored to take the chairmanship.
“Alongside my colleagues, and using my experience in government and law, we will affect positive changes in our judicial system and work on a variety of legislative proposals,” Carrasco said in a written statement. “We will continue working to ensure criminals are held accountable, victims are supported and laws are upheld. I look forward to the work ahead.”
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