Indiana Senate Rejects Trump-Backed Bid for New GOP-Drawn Congressional Map

TL/DR –

The Indiana Senate voted against a new Republican-drawn congressional district map aimed at boosting the party’s success in the 2022 midterm elections, despite pressure from Donald Trump. The map failed in the state Senate by a vote of 31-19, with 21 Republicans joining 10 Democrats in opposition. The decision follows an intense period of lobbying by national Republicans, including Trump, as well as threats and harassment faced by a number of Indiana lawmakers who opposed the map.

Indiana Senate Rejects Trump-urged Redistricting Attempt

The Indiana Senate has voted against a proposed Republican-drawn congressional map, a move that is seen as a significant rebuke of President Donald Trump’s attempts to influence the upcoming midterm elections. Trump had previously put pressure on Indiana lawmakers to adopt new district lines, a strategy seen in the current nationwide mid-decade redistricting battle.

In response to threats of backing primary challengers and growing harassment of lawmakers, the state Senate agreed to vote on the issue. Despite the state House approving the new map last week, the Senate rejected it with a 31-19 vote, which saw 21 Republicans joining 10 Democrats in opposition.

High-profile Republicans, including Trump and Vice President JD Vance, had attempted to rally support for the map through phone calls, in-person visits, and social media posts. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned of potential consequences for those voting against redistricting.

Despite this, 11 Republicans who voted against the plan will not face re-election until 2028, while the remaining 10 will be up for re-election in 2026. Following the vote, Republican Governor Mike Braun expressed disappointment and promised to work with Trump to back primary challengers against the opposing lawmakers.

Efforts to gain support for the new district lines saw top Republicans in Washington calling on Indiana representatives to back the proposal. However, most Republican-led states that Trump had pushed for redistricting generally fell in line, with Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina passing new maps favoring the party.

Due to the unchanged congressional boundaries in Indiana, Republicans may not gain the advantage they initially sought through redistricting. Meanwhile, Democrats in Virginia are progressing towards redistricting, and a court-directed map in Utah has resulted in a solidly Democratic district.

This ongoing saga in Indiana has been fraught with contentious moments as several elected Republicans faced violent threats and swatting attempts. Even after facing such intimidation methods, many Republicans expressed determination not to let these tactics influence their vote.

State Senator Greg Goode, who found himself singled out by Trump on social media, also faced a swatting attempt. During a Senate debate, Goode stated that he prioritizes his role as a Christian, then an American, conservative, and lastly a Republican, and feels his vote reflected his constituents’ wishes.

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