Indiana’s political landscape is heating up as pressure mounts on lawmakers to redraw the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The push, led by high-profile national Republicans including President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, has sparked fierce debate within the state, pitting party leaders and activists against a significant portion of Hoosier voters who oppose mid-decade redistricting.
On October 17, 2025, President Trump personally called Indiana Republican lawmakers, including Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, urging them to initiate a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts. According to IndyStar and The New York Times, Trump’s direct intervention marks the latest escalation in a nationwide campaign to secure more winnable GOP seats in the next election cycle. The call, confirmed by Molly Swigart, communications director for the Indiana Senate Republicans, included an invitation to caucus members, though the exact number of participants remains unclear.
Senator Tyler Johnson, R-Leo, was among those who responded publicly to the president’s lobbying. In a statement posted shortly after the call, Johnson said, “The national political landscape [is] bringing a fight to our doorstep that we did not ask for and Hoosiers rightfully scoff at but we must use every legal means at our disposal to counter this with a redistricting effort.” Johnson, who attended a White House meeting on redistricting in August, argued that Indiana’s congressional districts should better reflect the state’s conservative character. “Indiana is a red state through and through, and our congressional districts should mirror that sentiment,” he said. “For too long, maps have diluted the voices of everyday Hoosiers who prioritize fiscal responsibility, strong borders, and traditional values. By redistricting we can improve the likelihood that Indiana’s delegation in Washington fights unequivocally for Hoosier interests—lowering taxes, protecting life, and standing up to federal overreach.”
The push for redistricting, however, is far from universally popular—even within the Republican Party. According to a recent poll cited by IndyStar, 69% of Indiana voters, including many Republican primary voters, believe there is “no need to spend time or money” on redrawing the maps mid-decade, especially since Republicans already control seven of the state’s nine congressional seats. The current districts were drawn in 2021 following the decennial census, and many voters appear content with the status quo.
The pressure campaign has not been limited to phone calls and public statements. On Friday, October 17, conservative activist Scott Presler took to social media to warn Indiana lawmakers that he would support primary challengers against any Republican who does not back the redistricting effort. “Redraw the maps or we are coming for your seats—peacefully,” Presler posted on X (formerly Twitter). He later added that he had received invitations from Indiana county GOP chairs to organize events in support of redistricting, underscoring the grassroots intensity behind the movement.
Meanwhile, those opposed to redistricting are making their voices heard as well. Indiana Conservation Voters, a group focused on government accountability and environmental issues, has launched a $100,000 digital and radio ad campaign urging lawmakers to reject the push for new maps. The ads are set to run during high-profile football games featuring the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana University, and Notre Dame over the weekend of October 18. The message is clear: “We want our votes to count, our voices to be heard, and for lawmakers and Gov. Braun to focus on issues that matter to us: utility bills, inflation, taxes,” an unidentified voice in the ad declares.
On the evening of October 17, Hoosiers gathered in Fishers to write personal letters to their representatives, imploring them and Governor Mike Braun to oppose mid-decade redistricting and instead address pressing issues like energy bills, inflation, and property taxes. This grassroots mobilization highlights the local resistance to what many see as a distraction from more immediate concerns.
Governor Braun, for his part, remains noncommittal. His spokesperson told IndyStar that “no decisions have been made to that effect” when asked whether he would call a special legislative session to consider redistricting. The governor’s cautious approach reflects the divided sentiment among both lawmakers and the broader electorate.
The Indiana Senate Republican caucus is itself split. As reported by the Indiana Capital Chronicle, only four senators have publicly supported redistricting, while three have come out against it. The remaining members of the 40-person caucus are either undecided or have not made definitive statements. The Senate has been more hesitant than the House to embrace the push for new maps, making it the focal point of lobbying efforts by both national and state-level Republicans.
Vice President JD Vance has played an active role in the campaign, visiting Indiana twice since August to meet with both Senate and House Republicans. His visits, initially intended for the Senate caucus, were expanded to include House members, reflecting the importance of building consensus within the party. Vance’s involvement underscores the national stakes of the redistricting battle, as Republicans aim to solidify their hold on the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.
Indiana is not alone in facing this pressure. Texas became the first state to pass new congressional maps in August at the urging of the Trump administration, followed by Missouri in September. Other Republican-led states such as Nebraska, Kansas, and North Carolina are also being targeted for early redistricting. In response, Democratic-led California has placed a measure on its November ballot to consider similar action, and other blue states may follow suit. The nationwide push is part of a broader strategy to shape the balance of power in Congress ahead of the next election cycle.
Advocates for redistricting argue that the current maps fail to fully represent Indiana’s conservative majority and that a unified congressional delegation would be better positioned to advance Hoosier interests in Washington—on issues from health care access to economic growth and energy independence. Opponents counter that the process is both unnecessary and unpopular, diverting attention and resources from more urgent local priorities.
As the debate rages on, Indiana’s political leaders face a difficult choice: heed the calls from national party figures and conservative activists to redraw the maps, or listen to the majority of Hoosiers who say enough is enough. With the 2026 midterms looming and the stakes as high as ever, the outcome of this redistricting battle could shape not only Indiana’s future but also the broader national political landscape.
One thing is clear—this is a fight that goes far beyond lines on a map. It’s about who gets to decide what matters most to Indiana voters, and whose voices will carry the day in the halls of power.
