Indiana Senate gathers to consider redistricting bill

The Indiana Senate gathered Monday to consider the new congressional map passed by the House last week. The map aims to flip Indiana's two Democratic congressional seats for Republicans, part of the Trump administration's effort to give Republicans an edge heading into next year's midterm election.

In the House the bill passed 57 - 41, largely along party lines, with all but 12 House Republicans voting in favor. Democrats voted unanimously against the measure.

But Republicans in the Senate have been far more divided on the issue, and it's not clear how the bill will fare.

Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) on Monday was repeatedly asked by reporters if the votes were there.

"I've said before that they weren't, and what I'm saying now is we'll find out Thursday," Bray said.

Bray initially rejected calls from President Donald Trump and Indiana Gov. Mike Braun to take up the bill before the legislative session, arguing that there weren't enough votes. Since then, both Trump and Braun have threatened lawmakers who don't support the map with primary challenges.

When asked Monday what changed his mind, Bray told reporters the issue was "causing a lot of strife."

"It seemed like suddenly the issue was more about whether we're coming in or not," Bray said. "So we just decided to come in and vet the issue, and we'll vote on it and answer the question."

Many Indiana lawmakers say they and their families have faced anonymous threats in recent weeks, including bomb threats, although the motives behind those incidents are not confirmed.

Several lawmakers also reported being the victims of swatting attempts, with law enforcement called to their homes under false reports of domestic violence. Those threats came in the aftermath of the Senate's decision not to convene.

Bray called those incidents "unsettling."

"It's top of mind for everybody in public service right now, and it's a shame that we see that happen," Bray said. 

Republicans currently hold seven of Indiana's nine U.S. House seats. The proposed map targets the two remaining Democratic strongholds: District 1 in Northwest Indiana, held by Rep. Frank Mrvan, and District 7 in Indianapolis, held by Rep. André Carson. 

Indiana Republicans who support the new map hope the state can give Republicans an edge in the national effort to redistrict. Republicans opposed to the map have said they worry about normalizing gerrymandering, and instead want to see their party run a good candidate in the Democrat-leaning districts. 

Democrats gathered ahead of Monday's Senate session to call for a focus on cost-of-living issues instead of redistricting, as their House counterparts did last week.

Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) was asked what would happen if lawmakers said "No" to President Trump.

"I guess when you draw a line in the sand and say 'You do what I ask,' I guess you always have to be vigilant to ensure we center the lives, the voices, and the votes of Hoosiers and not the power grab we're seeing today," Yoder said.

Protesters focus on fairness, representation and outside influence

Several hundred people filled the hallways of the Statehouse on Monday afternoon, chanting for and against speakers giving public testimony in the Senate chamber.

Protesters held signs opposing the potential changes to Indiana's nine congressional districts. They shared concerns over fairness, losing congressional representation, and disenfranchising minorities.

They were also concerned about outside influence on Indiana politics, like President Trump demanding new maps that favor Republicans.

"Indiana didn't want to do this. They're bending their knee to a tyrant. No president should be calling up any state telling them what to do," said Randy Hoggard, a resident of Hamilton County who opposes the changes and described himself as an independent. "It's disgraceful."

Other protesters also said they see state political leaders following orders from outside Indiana.

"This is a scare tactic to our state representatives. I really hope and keep my fingers crossed that they don't fall into the trap," said DeOnyae-Dior Valentina, the founder and executive director of Strength Over Struggle, an organization focused on supporting queer and transgender BIPOC communities.

Ron Berry, who lives in Marion County, is the founder and executive director of the nonprofit Triple T Academy, which offers drone certification training for marginalized people. He came to the statehouse to learn more about the controversy, and said he opposes redistricting.

"Our government is threatening our own senators. What's that sound like to you?" Berry said.

Senate committee hears hours of testimony 

Over 120 people signed up to testify on the bill during its Monday committee hearing. The testimony was more mixed than it was in the House, where most who spoke were opposed to redistricting. 

Michael Morris from Lafayette spoke in favor of the bill, as protesters gathered outside the chamber could be heard booing his testimony. 

"I'd like to compliment our Democratic friends. They stick together. When they win elections, they take office to wield power and unabashedly advance their aims," Morris said. "Now it's time for Republicans to take a page from our friend's playbook, and even though we're only now catching up, do the same."
 

Terre Haute lawyer Jim Bopp also spoke in favor of the map. Bopp is a conservative activist known for representing Citizens United, and was recently installed as an Indiana University trustee. 

Bopp argued that without clear rules against mid-decade redistricting, Republicans had a responsibility to do so in Indiana, to counter Democrats doing the same thing in other states. 

"I wish we had a nationwide law that required the use of traditional criteria for redistricting, but I live in the real world, and we don't have such a rule," Bopp said. 

As a long line of people testified in favor of the map, outside the chamber people could be heard chanting "shame, shame, shame." 

Hamilton County resident Lasima Packett spoke against redistricting, saying she's worried it would erode Democracy. She said Indiana has a chance to show the country how to act. 

"We do not cave to the pressures from Washington D.C. We do not redraw Democracy to suit a moment, and here in this state, we still believe in fairness, transparency and the right for every Hoosier to be fully represented," Packett said. 

William Smith, an Indianapolis resident, wrote a poem against redistricting that he performed as part of his testimony. 

"We want better roads, health care, yet redistricting is being shoved down our throats by Washington outsiders," Smith said. 

The Marion County clerk also testified, as she did last week in front of the House, saying the redrawn map would create "havoc" for election workers.

A couple of Republican voters voiced opposition to the map.

Ethan Hatcher, a radio host in Indianapolis, said he has voted Republican most of his life but spoke against the bill.

"I voted for Donald Trump in 2020 and 2024, but today I stand before you vehemently opposed to mid-decade congressional redistricting plans pushed by House Republicans, a blatant power grab that I believe compromises the principles of our founding fathers," Hatcher said. 

Joseph Smith, a New Palestine resident, also spoke out against the bill as a lifelong Republican.

"Changing the playing field in the middle of the game is not the Indiana way," he said. "How about winning by putting political pressure on your opponents in the arena of ideas to get your desired outcome?"

A final Senate vote is scheduled for Thursday, but it's not clear if the map will make it that far.

Contact Health Reporter Benjamin Thorp at bthorp@wfyi.org

Contact Data Journalist Zak Cassel at zcassel@wfyi.org