Indiana Governor Calls Special Session to Pass GOP Gerrymander

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) announced Monday he will call a special legislative session to consider redrawing the state’s congressional map, making it the fourth GOP-controlled state to take up redistricting at President Donald Trump’s demand. 

If Indiana passes a gerrymander, it will follow in the footsteps of Texas, Missouri and North Carolina. In all three states, voters are fighting back to block the maps approved by lawmakers.

As recently as last week, the Indiana Senate reportedly did not have enough support for a gerrymander.

Indiana’s announcement, for a session to begin Nov. 3, comes on the heels of Virginia Democrats’ surprise decision to redraw maps in response to Republicans. Virginia is the second Democratic-controlled state to enter the redistricting fray. California voters are now weighing in on whether to move forward with a congressional map designed to counter the five seats Republicans could gain in Texas.

Braun said in a statement he’s calling the session “to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair.” 

Republicans could target both of Indiana’s Democratic districts to win all nine seats in the delegation, which is currently 7-2 for the GOP. 

The White House has been pressuring Indiana Republicans for months to redraw the map to help rig the 2026 election and secure a GOP majority in Congress. Vice President JD Vance made a visit to Indianapolis in August to push the plan. 

Indiana voters then received a robocall urging them to support a GOP gerrymander. Charlie Kirk jumped in at the same time, threatening reluctant Republicans, posting on social media: “We will support primary opponents for  Republicans in the Indiana State Legislature who refuse to support the team and redraw the maps.”

Some Indiana Republicans were quick to use Kirk’s death as a rallying cry for gerrymandering. 

Indiana Sen. Jim Banks (R) told attendees at a party event: “They killed Charlie Kirk — the least that we can do is go through a legal process and redistrict Indiana into a nine to zero map.” 

Meanwhile, Braun warned in September that the state could face “consequences” for not complying with Trump’s plan. 

“If we try to drag our feet as a state on it, probably, we’ll have consequences of not working with the Trump administration as tightly as we should,” Braun said in a radio interview.

When some Indiana Republicans seemingly remained unconvinced, Trump phoned into an Indiana Senate Republican caucus meeting in mid-October to put further pressure on the group.