Facing Threats and Intimidation, Indiana Republicans Will Vote on Redistricting 

Indiana Senate Republicans reversed course on redistricting Tuesday, announcing they will convene Dec. 8 to reach a “final decision” on redrawing the state’s congressional map. 

The announcement came after months of escalating pressure from President Donald Trump and his supporters demanding they gerrymander to help the GOP win more seats in the 2026 midterm elections.

Senate leader Rodric Bray (R) explained their motivation by saying the redistricting issue was “causing strife here in our state.”

“To resolve this issue, the Senate intends to reconvene as part of the regular 2026 session on Dec. 8 and make a final decision that week on any redistricting proposal sent from the House,” Bray said in a statement. 

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston (R) announced Tuesday that the House will reconvene Dec. 1, the week before the Senate meets.

“All legislative business will be considered beginning next week, including redrawing the state’s congressional map,” Huston said in a statement.

Indiana Senate Democrats were quick to criticize Republicans for the move, saying they capitulated on an issue unpopular with voters.

“Hoosiers watched something dangerous unfold today. Senate Republicans looked directly at their constituents and said, ‘we heard you, but we will not listen to you,’” the caucus said in a statement.

Indiana Republicans have faced immense pressure from the White House since August to redraw the state’s nine congressional districts, two of which are currently represented by Democrats. Vice President J.D. Vance visited Indiana to urge a redraw, Indiana voters received robocalls pushing redistricting and the late conservative activist Charlie Kirk vowed to primary Indiana Republicans who didn’t support the plan.  

In September, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) warned that if Indiana dragged their feet on redistricting, “we’ll have consequences of not working with the Trump administration as tightly as we should.” 

Still, some Indiana Republicans hadn’t bent the knee after two months of coercion. When Trump phoned in to an Indiana Senate Republican caucus meeting in mid-October, some remained unconvinced. 

Braun gave in and called a special session last month to pass a gerrymander. But some Senate Republicans rejected Trump’s demands, shutting down a proposed December session. 

Shortly before the vote, Trump blasted Republican holdouts in a post on his Truth Social platform: “Senators Bray, Goode, and the others … should DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW! If not, let’s get them out of office, ASAP.”

Since then, at least five Indiana Republicans have been targeted in so-called “swatting” incidents in which false emergency reports were sent in to local law enforcement. 

State Sen. Spencer Deery (R) also reportedly received an unsolicited pizza delivery at his family’s home before the swatting attempt. He said he felt the message was clear: “We know where you live.” 

After several days of incidents, Braun finally called for an end to the harassment.

“Enough is enough,” Braun said on social media. “These threats to lawmakers, including those received by me and my family in recent days, need to stop.”