Those Who Resist Trump’s Gerrymander Bid Face Threats, Intimidation

Voters aren’t the only ones bearing the brunt of President Donald Trump’s efforts to rig the 2026 election by forcing states to draw new congressional maps favorable to Republicans. 

Officials are facing threats and intimidation for resisting Trump’s plan. The situation is particularly alarming in Indiana, where five Republican lawmakers have been targeted in so-called “swatting” incidents after voting against a partisan redistricting session. A sixth reported receiving a bomb threat at his business Thursday. 

The first incident was reported Sunday. By Friday afternoon, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun (R) finally weighed in, calling 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.” 

Law enforcement had been working around the clock all week to protect lawmakers and investigate, he added.

The wave of threats emphasizes the high political stakes of Trump’s push to gerrymander. Since August, Indiana Republicans have been under intense pressure from the White House to redraw the state’s nine congressional districts, two of which currently are represented by Democrats. 

Last month, Braun gave in and called a special session to pass a gerrymander. But the Indiana State Senate rejected Trump’s demands Tuesday by shutting down a proposed December session in a 29-18 vote. Nineteen GOP senators joined with Democrats to oppose the move. 

On the eve of that vote, Trump saw where things were headed. In a Nov. 16 post on his Truth Social platform, the president wrote that he was “disappointed” that state Sen. Greg Goode (R) and other Republicans were not going to support his gerrymander plan. 

“Senators Bray, Goode, and the others … should DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW! If not, let’s get them out of office, ASAP,” Trump wrote.

Just hours later, Goode’s home was “swatted” — meaning an anonymous individual placed a false emergency report in hopes of provoking an overwhelming law enforcement response against the senator.

In a statement, Goode said local law enforcement had responded to a false report of a domestic violence emergency at his home. “While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok,” he said.

Goode said he has “not taken a public stance on mid-cycle redistricting in Indiana and won’t unless an officially introduced map and legislation is presented on the floor of the State Senate.” 

Republican state Sens. Dan Dernulc, Rick Niemeyer, Spencer Deery and Kyle Walker also experienced similar swatting attacks. 

“It is disturbing that anyone would attempt to harm or intimidate lawmakers,” Deery said in a statement Thursday, “but sadly not all that surprising in the current environment…We will continue to do our duty and to do what is in the best interest of our district, no matter the threats.” 

Deery added that his family also received an unsolicited pizza delivery at their home the night before the swatting attempt. He felt the message was clear: “We know where you live.”

“Even this less serious tactic should be condemned and never normalized,” Deery said.

Walker called the threats and intimidation tactics “counter-effective.” 

State Sen. Liz Brown, a pro-gerrymander Republican, condemned the incidents in a social media post Thursday.

“Let me say it louder this time: IN ADDITION TO THIS BEHAVIOR BEING DANGEROUS AND ILLEGAL, IT’S NOT HELPFUL AND MUST STOP. This is not how policy change happens. I hope the guilty party is found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Brown wrote.

Multi-state phenomenon

Intimidation of gerrymandering opponents hasn’t been confined to Indiana.

Utah Judge Dianna Gibson also faced threats after she rejected a GOP gerrymander plan and selected a fairer map for 2026, likely giving Democrats one of the state’s four seats.

The Utah Judiciary responded to the threats Monday, issuing a statement saying judges have a constitutional duty to apply the law, independent of external pressures. 

“We call on everyone to approach concerns involving the courts with civility, respect, and constructive dialogue,” it said.

The threats were made at a moment when the judge was coming under substantial political pressure. 

Shortly after Gibson’s ruling, the Utah GOP said the decision was a “direct threat to our constitutional order” and told her to “leave the bench and run for the legislature to pursue her policy preferences.”

Utah state Rep. Matt MacPherson (R) said he had opened a bill to file articles of impeachment against Gibson “for gross abuse of power, violating the separation of powers and failing to uphold her oath of office to the Utah Constitution.”

Democrats have also faced threats.

When Texas Democrats left the state this summer to block a GOP gerrymander, their Chicago hotel reported multiple bomb threats.

Lobbyist and former Trump advisor Roger Stone posted their location on social media with the message, “Believe the TX Dems are hiding there.” Meanwhile, their families in Texas received unsolicited pizza deliveries at their homes.

This story has been updated to include new information.