Indiana Senate rejects Trump-backed map 31–19; Trump vows to back primary against GOP Senate leader
The Indiana Senate rejected a Trump‑backed mid‑decade congressional map 31–19, with 21 Republicans joining 10 Democrats to defeat a plan that would have remade the state into a 9–0 GOP map and likely ousted Reps. André Carson and Frank Mrvan. The vote came after intense pressure from Trump and allies — including visits by VP JD Vance and public threats of primary challenges (Trump singled out Senate leader Rodric Bray, who voted no) — and amid reports of swatting, bomb threats and other harassment of lawmakers.
📌 Key Facts
- The Indiana Senate rejected the Trump‑backed mid‑decade congressional map by a 31–19 final vote, with 21 Republican senators joining all 10 Democrats to defeat the plan.
- The plan (House Bill 1032), which the GOP‑controlled Indiana House passed 57–41, was drawn to make all nine U.S. House districts lean Republican (a reported “9–0” map) and would have effectively eliminated the districts of Democratic Reps. André Carson and Frank Mrvan; it would also split Indianapolis into four districts and pair East Chicago and Gary with rural northern counties.
- President Trump and allies mounted intense pressure: Trump publicly named and attacked GOP holdouts, threatened primary challenges and said he would back challengers (singling out Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray), Vice President J.D. Vance lobbied in person in Indiana twice, and national groups (including Club for Growth and Turning Point Action) pledged support for the push; outside group Fair Maps Indiana spent at least $250,000 on ads backing the redraw.
- Lawmakers and their families reported a wave of harassment and threats in the run‑up to the vote — including swatting, bomb and pipe‑bomb threats (targets included Sen. Spencer Deery, Sen. Jean Leising, Sen. Andy Zay and others) — and state police investigated multiple incidents.
- The Senate GOP was deeply divided: an earlier proxy vote was split 19–19, the Senate Elections Committee advanced the bill 6–3, and leadership (Rodric Bray) acknowledged insufficient support; had a tie occurred the Republican lieutenant governor (Micah Beckwith) was positioned as a potential tiebreaker.
- Observers framed the vote as the first significant defeat of Trump’s mid‑decade redistricting campaign by members of his own party and said the Indiana outcome could hinder or temper similar efforts in other states, even as several states (e.g., Texas, Ohio, North Carolina) have moved forward with maps that could yield net GOP House gains.
📊 Relevant Data
In Indiana, the White population percentage decreased from 84.3% in 2010 to 77.2% in 2020, while minority populations, particularly Hispanic and Black, increased, driving overall state population growth.
2020 Census data: How Indiana has changed over the last 10 years — IndyStar
Indiana's 7th Congressional District is the only district in the state where White residents make up less than half (47%) of the population, with Black residents comprising less than one-third.
As GOP lines up behind mid-cycle redistricting, voting rights advocates caution against ‘hasty’ maps — Indiana Capital Chronicle
In Texas, the Hispanic population increased from 37.6% in 2010 to 39.8% in 2020, surpassing non-Hispanic White population which decreased from 45.3% to 39.3%.
Demographics of Texas — Wikipedia
Between 2010 and 2020, Texas's population grew by 15.9%, with the Latino population increase accounting for a significant portion of this growth.
2020 Census Profiles | Texas — NALEO Educational Fund
📊 Analysis & Commentary (4)
The red-state Republican sparking Trump’s ire speaks
"The Politico analysis profiles Indiana Senate GOP leader Rodric Bray as an institutionalist roadblock to President Trump’s mid‑decade redistricting push, arguing his pragmatic concerns and local political calculations reveal limits to White House influence and the risks of aggressive map‑making."
Turning Point tests its potency in Indiana
"A Politico Playbook analysis argues the Indiana redistricting fight is a crucial test of Turning Point USA’s post‑Charlie Kirk influence — highlighting aggressive pressure tactics, substantial promised spending and modest grassroots turnout — and expresses skepticism that those tools alone will deliver the organization’s desired victory or legacy."
SBSQ #27: Is redistricting backfiring on Republicans?
"A skeptical deep‑dive arguing that recent Trump‑backed, mid‑cycle redistricting efforts (exemplified by Indiana’s vote) risk backfiring by spurring litigation, energizing Democratic turnout, and creating intra‑GOP fractures that may erode the maps’ expected benefits."
Hoosier daddy
"A Politico Playbook commentary argues Indiana Republicans rebuffed Trump’s redistricting pressure because of principled federalism and disgust with the bullying tactics used, a rebuke that weakens Trump’s leverage and could harm GOP redistricting plans for 2026."
📰 Sources (21)
Where every state stands on redistricting after critical blow to Trump agenda
New information:
- Axios tallies six states that have effectively locked in new maps (Texas, California, Ohio, Missouri, North Carolina, Utah) and projects a net GOP gain of 1–4 House seats from those changes.
- State-by-state projections: Republicans favored to gain 4–5 seats in Texas, 2–3 in Ohio, and 1 in North Carolina; California and Utah were not favorable to GOP in redistricting.
- Article characterizes Indiana as the first state to formally reject a Trump-backed redistricting bid and quotes Northwestern professor Erik Nisbet saying Indiana’s vote could 'stop or at least mitigate' similar pushes in other states.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia released from ICE custody. And, Indiana rejects redistricting
New information:
- GOP State Sen. Spencer Deery said redistricting for political gain opposes his conservative values and he would resist federal 'bullying' of a state.
- NPR notes other lawmakers cited constituent opposition to the proposed map.
- NPR frames the Indiana vote as the first time members of Trump’s own party voted against his redistricting push.
WATCH: Trump criticizes Indiana Senate Republicans’ rejection of redistricting effort
New information:
- Trump said he would support a primary challenge against Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray over the vote.
- Direct Trump quotes: Bray "will probably lose his next primary... I hope he does" and Trump would "certainly support anybody who wants to go against him."
- Article reiterates the 31–19 vote tally and specifies 21 Republicans joined 10 Democrats to defeat the map.
- Bray’s post‑vote statement: many caucus members do not view mid‑cycle redrawing as a guaranteed way to maintain a GOP U.S. House majority.
In a setback for Trump, Indiana lawmakers defeat redistricting plan
New information:
- Final Senate vote count was 31–19 against the map; 40 of the 50 senators are Republicans.
- Republican Sen. Spencer Deery publicly opposed mid‑cycle gerrymandering on conservative federalism grounds; quote included.
- Republican Sen. Mike Young argued for passing the map to help retain U.S. House control; quote included.
- Vice President JD Vance tweeted that Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray told the administration he wouldn’t fight redistricting but then encouraged no votes; Bray voted no.
- Protesters outside the chamber chanted “vote no” and “Hoosiers fight fair.”
- Gov. Mike Braun supported Trump’s call and, along with Trump, threatened primary challenges; lawmakers reported anonymous threats to families.
- NPR frames this as the first time Trump’s mid‑decade redistricting push was defeated by members of his own party.
Trump dealt major blow as Indiana Senate rejects redistricting map that would’ve added 2 GOP House seats
New information:
- Fox News specifies the map would have effectively eliminated the seats of Democratic Reps. Frank Mrvan and André Carson.
- Reports a prior 19–19 proxy vote in the Indiana Senate, underscoring the chamber’s lack of support before the final vote.
- Details Trump’s specific social media attacks on Senate GOP Leader Rodric Bray and his vow to target senators who opposed the bill in primaries.
- Notes Bray’s public shift to reconvene the Senate for a vote, citing mounting strife over mid‑cycle redistricting.
Indiana redistricting bill fails in state Senate
New information:
- Indiana Senate Republicans failed to pass the redistricting bill on Thursday.
- CBS reports senators faced bomb and swatting threats in the run‑up to the vote.
- Trump vowed to back primary challenges against Republicans who opposed the measure and singled out Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray by name with a direct warning on social media.
- Vice President JD Vance accused Bray of privately assuring support while allegedly whipping votes against the bill.
- CBS frames this as the first defeat of national Republicans’ mid‑cycle redistricting push since Trump launched it over the summer.
- The bill would have edged out the state’s two House Democrats.
Indiana Senate rejects Trump's redistricting effort
New information:
- Direct quotes from Sen. Spencer Deery (R) citing harm to public faith as reason to vote no.
- Sen. Greg Goode (R), who was targeted by a swatting incident, said constituents opposed being drawn into a district with Indianapolis and announced a no vote.
- Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray’s remarks before and after the vote: “We’ll vote and answer the question,” and “We finally have a resolution now.”
- Gov. Mike Braun said a 'small group of misguided State Senators' partnered with Democrats, promised political consequences, and vowed to work with Trump to challenge opposing Republicans.
- Specific bill identifier noted as House Bill 1032; Axios reports the Senate debate lasted about three hours.
- Trump’s Truth Social quote pressuring senators, claiming 'Every other State has done Redistricting…' and framing the effort as key to a GOP midterms win.
Republican rift puts spotlight on high-stakes showdown over Trump-driven red state redistricting
New information:
- Indiana Senate previously split 19–19 in a proxy vote on the redistricting plan.
- Senate GOP leader Rodric Bray reversed course to reconvene the chamber, acknowledging the issue is causing strife in the state.
- Trump escalated pressure by publicly naming nine GOP state senators as undecided and threatened primary challenges to Bray and others opposing the map.
- Reiteration that the Indiana House passed the bill 57–41 with a dozen Republicans voting no (adds on‑record context to Senate pressure).
- Context note tying Indiana fight to last week’s Supreme Court action that allowed Texas to use its new mid‑decade map.
Indiana Senate to vote on 9-0 GOP congressional map, but future uncertain
New information:
- The proposed map is described as making all nine Indiana U.S. House districts lean Republican ('9–0').
- Senate whip count specifics: at least 12 GOP senators have publicly come out against the map, about 10 are undecided; 25 votes are needed, with Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith as potential tie‑breaker.
- Senate President Rodric Bray has said the votes are not currently there to pass the map.
- House passage previously occurred 57–41; the map would drastically break apart Rep. André Carson’s Indianapolis district.
- White House pressure detailed: VP JD Vance has met multiple times with Indiana GOP lawmakers; Trump personally called lawmakers and publicly threatened to endorse against Republicans who vote 'no.'
- Outside spending: 'Fair Maps Indiana' has already spent over $250,000 on ads pushing the mid‑decade redraw.
The Latest Trump Resistance Is Within the Indiana G.O.P.
New information:
- NYT reports President Trump publicly called out individual Indiana GOP senators on social media as 'RINOs' and threatened to endorse primary challengers if they oppose his map.
- Confirms the map passed the Indiana House on Friday and says the fate remains in doubt ahead of key Senate votes this week despite Republicans holding 40 of 50 seats.
- Frames the Indiana fight as a high-profile test of Trump’s ability to pressure Republican legislators in a deep-red state.
Indiana Senate committee advance redistricting proposal backed by Trump toward final floor vote
New information:
- Indiana Senate Elections Committee advanced the bill on a 6–3 vote, with one Republican joining two Democrats in opposition.
- Final Senate floor vote is expected Thursday; several Republicans signaled they may still oppose on final passage despite advancing it from committee.
- Sen. Greg Walker detailed recent threats and declared, “I refuse to be intimidated,” underscoring pressure on GOP holdouts.
- Map specifics highlighted: Indianapolis would be split into four districts; East Chicago and Gary would be grouped with a broad rural region; the plan would eliminate Democratic Reps. André Carson’s and Frank Mrvan’s districts.
Trump turns up the heat on red-state Republicans blocking new congressional maps
New information:
- Indiana House passed the Trump-backed redistricting plan 57–41 on Friday, with 12 Republicans voting no.
- The Indiana Senate reconvened Monday and is likely to hold a final vote Thursday.
- A prior proxy vote in the Senate split 19–19, underscoring uncertain support.
- Senate GOP leader Rodric Bray said support is insufficient and acknowledged the issue is causing “strife”; Trump publicly attacked Bray and threatened primary challenges.
- Trump has directly called lawmakers; VP JD Vance visited Indiana twice earlier in the autumn to push redistricting.
- Trump highlighted nine Senate Republicans he says are undecided and urged passing the map “as is.”
- Context: Follows last week’s Supreme Court order allowing Texas to use a newly redrawn GOP map.
Redistricting in Indiana faces ultimate test in state Senate
New information:
- Specific schedule: Senate floor meets at 12:30 p.m. ET and the Senate Elections Committee at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
- House timeline: The map was introduced last Monday and passed by the GOP supermajority in the House on Friday.
- Map specifics: Indianapolis would be split into four districts; East Chicago and Gary would be grouped with rural northern counties.
- Incumbents affected: The plan would eliminate the districts of Democratic Reps. André Carson (the state’s only Black member of Congress) and Frank Mrvan.
- Vote mechanics: In the 50‑member Senate, at least 25 'yes' votes would trigger a tie‑breaker by Republican Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who supports redistricting.
- Pressure details: Trump vowed to back primary challengers against GOP holdouts; about a dozen lawmakers have faced threats or swatting.
- Additional pressure context: VP JD Vance visited Indianapolis twice since August; legislative leaders met with Trump in the Oval Office earlier this year.
- Senate outlook: Senate leader Rodric Bray previously said there were not enough votes to pass the map; current whip count is unclear.
Violent threats pile up as Indiana Republicans confront pressure from Trump on redistricting
New information:
- AP identifies targeted Indiana GOP senators and incidents: Spencer Deery faced a swatting attempt at his home while his son waited for the school bus; Linda Rogers reported threats at her home and family golf course; Jean Leising faced a pipe‑bomb scare emailed to local law enforcement.
- Trump posted a list of senators who 'need encouragement' and warned he would help vote out those who oppose the map.
- Turning Point Action said it would spend heavily to unseat any 'no' votes.
- Indiana senators are scheduled to convene Monday to consider the mid‑decade redistricting proposal.
Indiana House GOP advances 9-0 congressional map, sending plan to state Senate
New information:
- Names GOP Senate holdouts: Sens. Kyle Walker (not seeking reelection), Eric Bassler, and Greg Walker oppose redistricting.
- Indiana State Police have investigated numerous bomb threats and swatting incidents tied to the redistricting fight; Sen. Jean Leising reported a pipe bomb threat.
- House Elections Committee breakdown before floor vote: eight Republicans for; one Republican joined four Democrats against.
- Gov. Mike Braun called a November special session to consider redistricting; Senate President Rodric Bray said the votes weren’t there at that time.
- Details Trump/Vance pressure campaign and Trump’s threats of primaries for GOP holdouts.
Red state moves forward on Trump-backed push for new congressional map
New information:
- Indiana House approved a new congressional map 57–41 along party lines on Dec. 5, 2025.
- The plan, drawn by a national GOP‑aligned group, would create two additional right‑leaning districts (GOP currently holds 7 of 9 seats).
- At the sole public hearing, the bill’s author acknowledged the map was 'politically gerrymandered' for GOP performance; all but two of 43 speakers opposed the bill.
- Rep. Ben Smaltz defended the map against racial gerrymandering claims and argued legislatures may revisit maps when they deem appropriate.
- The measure now heads to the Indiana Senate, where GOP leader Rodric Bray has said support is insufficient; Trump has threatened primaries against GOP holdouts.
- The vote came less than 24 hours after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Texas to use its new mid‑decade congressional map.
Indiana lawmakers convene with redistricting top of mind
New information:
- House Republicans say there is 'no doubt' redistricting will pass the House and plan to push forward Monday (Dec. 1).
- No official map or legislation had been made public as of late Friday.
- Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said the mid-cycle redistricting is causing strife and that the Senate will decide the matter this month.
- House Speaker Todd Huston stated all legislative business, including redrawing the congressional map, will be considered beginning this week.
Trump forces Indiana GOP into redistricting reversal in race to draw new MAGA map
New information:
- Club for Growth president David McIntosh says the group is “all in” to back Trump’s redistricting push in red states, including Indiana.
- Trump publicly threatened primary challenges against Senate leader Rodric Bray, calling him a “RINO,” if he blocked mid‑cycle redistricting.
- Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana twice earlier this autumn to discuss redistricting with state lawmakers.
- Fox reports the proposed map would create another GOP‑leaning seat and likely shift the 1st District from blue‑leaning to red‑leaning.
- Gov. Mike Braun supports the redistricting push, while Trump has criticized him for not working hard enough to secure votes.
GOP-led Indiana legislature to reconvene on redistricting, pushing for 9-0 map
New information:
- House Speaker Todd Huston says the House will reconvene Monday to take up a new congressional map.
- Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray says the Senate will reconvene Dec. 8 to decide on any House redistricting proposal.
- Goal described as a 9–0 GOP map, eliminating Indiana’s two Democratic-held U.S. House seats.
- President Trump publicly congratulated Indiana Republicans and urged the Senate to 'find the Votes.'
- Indiana GOP lawmakers report harassment and swatting; State Sen. Andy Zay says a bomb threat was called in to his business; Gov. Mike Braun condemned threats.
- Context update: Texas mid-cycle maps face ongoing litigation; a federal court ordered a return to the 2021 map, but the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily halted that ruling.
Why this Indiana Republican bucks Trump on redistricting
New information:
- The Indiana Senate’s proxy vote to adjourn rather than hold a December redistricting session was 29–19, with 19 Republicans joining 10 Democrats.
- Sen. Spencer Deery publicly explains his opposition as rooted in 'popular sovereignty' and constitutional oath, not a break with conservative values.
- Deery reports his family’s home was the target of a swatting incident Thursday morning following intra‑party blowback.
- Vice President JD Vance flew to Indiana twice to lobby leaders, and state lawmakers met with President Trump in the Oval Office in August.
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