Trump Intensifies Pressure on Indiana Republicans to Gerrymander

By Yunior Rivas

President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during a meeting with the White House task force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro listen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

President Donald Trump and his allies have launched an extraordinary pressure campaign against Indiana Republicans, vowing to endorse primary challengers against state lawmakers who oppose a mid-decade gerrymandering effort to secure GOP control of the U.S. House. 

The move follows Indiana Senate Republicans’ announcement last week that they would not reconvene in December to vote on new maps, effectively stalling a plan that Trump has promoted to shift the delegation from its current 7-2 Republican advantage to a potential 9-0 edge ahead of the 2026 midterms.

“I will be strongly endorsing against any State Senator or House member from the Great State of Indiana that votes against the Republican Party, and our Nation, by not allowing for Redistricting for Congressional seats in the United States House of Representatives as every other State in our Nation is doing,” Trump posted on his Truth Social. “We must keep the Majority at all costs.”

Trump singled out Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R) and Sen. Greg Goode (R), calling them “RINO” (Republican in Name Only) and accusing them of potentially costing the party its House majority.

“Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their State, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats,” he wrote. “Any Republican that votes against this important redistricting, potentially having an impact on America itself, should be PRIMARIED.”

Goode was the victim of a swatting incident Sunday after Trump’s criticism. 

Gov. Mike Braun (R), who Trump said was only elected because of him and “not working the way he should,” echoed the pressure campaign.

“I just had a great call with President Trump!” Braun said.  “Indiana’s State Legislators must show up for work and take a public vote for fair maps to counter the gerrymandering in California and Illinois. But the Indiana State Senate is hiding behind closed doors and refusing to even bring redistricting to a vote.”

In fact, California’s redistricting, which was approved by voters, was undertaken to counter Texas’ Trump-driven gerrymander.

By framing an aggressive Republican gerrymander as “fair maps,” Braun adopted Trump’s language while sidestepping the core issue that a forced mid-cycle redraw would strip millions of Indiana voters of representation to guarantee the outcomes Trump wants.

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith (R) also joined the attack, amplifying Trump’s call for immediate action.

“Indiana’s Legislature should follow Trump’s lead and REDISTRICT now!” Beckwith posted. “California is gaming the system padding its census counts with illegal immigrants to FRAUDULENTLY grab more congressional seats and electoral power.”

The message to lawmakers is unmistakable — fall in line or face personal, political and even physical consequences.