The Indiana State Senate, which has a GOP super majority, has voted against a redistricting bill that would have likely given Republicans two additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Control of the House in next year’s midterms is critical for Republicans, who fear that a Democrat majority would try to impeach Trump.
The final tally was 19 to 31. Republicans have a 40 to 10 advantage over Democrats in the upper chamber, but 21 Republicans joined the 10 Democrats in voting no.
The state senate vote was the culmination of weeks of lobbying by members of the Trump administration and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., who had taken to calling Indiana state lawmakers this week in an effort to swing votes.
The current congressional delegation from the Hoosier state is composed of seven Republicans and two Democrats in the U.S. House. The new map would have given Republicans a 9-0 sweep.
Protesters outside are cheering “We did it!” As Indiana Senators vote down redistricting. (On this pic, Young will be a yes. That’s only 19 yeses.) pic.twitter.com/Sfblu0ItNM
— Kayla Dwyer (@kayla_dwyer17) December 11, 2025
Trump Threatens to Primary
President Donald Trump has promised to primary the Republican state senators who voted against the redistricting bill, writing on Truth Social yesterday, “I will do everything within my power to make sure that they will not hurt the Republican Party, and our Country, again.”
Despite his preemptive condemnation and primary threat of some Indiana lawmakers, the president has been enthusiastically supported by a crop of younger legislators looking toward the future of the party.
This week The Daily Signal spoke with Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and state Rep. Andrew Ireland. Both expressed support for the redistricting effort, but explained why Indiana’s Senate voted against the map.
Beckwith described the older generation in the state senate as “embod[ing] the spirit of Neville Chamberlain, like we can make peace with evil.”
Ireland, who at age 30 is one of the youngest lawmakers in the country, emphasized that the electoral map would have real consequences.
“I mean, the difference between two votes, if you look at the journey right now, is the difference between the ‘One Big, Beautiful Bill’ passing and not, for example. And for all the frustrations that I and I’m sure others have with what happens in Washington and Republicans in Congress letting us down, I think we’ve also seen the consequences of having Democrats in the majority,” the state lawmaker explained.
Vice President JD Vance, who has personally whipped for the map in recent weeks, took aim at Indiana Senate Republican leader Rodric Bray in a post on X.
“Rod Bray, the Senate leader in Indiana, has consistently told us he wouldn’t fight redistricting while simultaneously whipping his members against it,” the vice president wrote. “That level of dishonesty cannot be rewarded, and the Indiana GOP needs to choose a side.”
Bray voted no on the map and has been repeatedly criticized for his handling of the redistricting effort.
Mike Johnson Looks to the Midterms
In the U.S. House, Johnson currently faces a thin margin, and Republican House member retirement or resignation announcements are expected to continue prior to the midterm primary season.
The Indiana redistricting effort would have helped Republicans in the ongoing redistricting wars.
Several states across the country are currently contemplating or in the process of redistricting, including Texas, California, and Missouri.
Historically, the party in power in the White House faces headwinds during a midterm election season, although time will tell if voters come out in support of an agenda that has delivered tax cuts, a secure border, mass deportations of illegal aliens, and several peace deals, among other accomplishments.