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4:35 p.m.
In a setback for Trump, Indiana lawmakers defeat redistricting plan
The Indiana Senate defeated a bill 19-to-31 that would have reshaped the state's congressional districts to benefit Republicans. This the first time Trump's redistricting campaign has been voted down by members of his own party. For more on this developing story, go to our website.
4:30 p.m.
Redistricting bill's Senate co-sponsor closes debate ahead of vote
Sen. Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton), the Senate co-sponsor of the redistricting bill, is closing the debate. He is making a case for the legislation to be approved, by claiming that Democratic lawmakers in other states are gerrymandering in their favor to retain power in the U.S. House and Senate.
"They are not going to quit," Gaskill said.
Throughout the debate, Democratic lawmakers have made the case that Gaskill and others are want to dilute the votes of Marion County, the largest Black community in the state.
Republicans currently hold seven of Indiana's nine U.S. House seats. Democrats represent the 1st District in northwest Indiana — held by U.S. Rep. Frank Mrvan — and the 7th District in Marion County, anchored by Indianapolis — held by U.S. Rep. André Carson.
4:00 p.m.
Lawmakers give impassioned speeches
Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) spoke in support of passing the new congressional map, pointing to other states in the country where Democrats control every district. "Were here to be agents of American greatness," Garten said.
"The White House has made the call," he said. "And it's time for Indiana to answer."
3:25 p.m.
Disruption in the chamber
Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, president of the Indiana Senate, threatened to clear out the gallery of public spectators after at least two people yelled out and interrupted Sen. Liz Brown (R- Fort Wayne) as she spoke.
"One more outburst and that whole gallery is getting clear out," Beckwith said. "That is your final warning."
It was unclear what the people were shouting. Brown criticized multiple Democratic leaders and programs during her comments in favor of the proposed map. She warned that California will redraw its congressional map to favor Democrats and that will limit the interests of Republicans in Indiana.
"Hoosier voicers are going to be harder to hear," Brown said. "Without this, they are going to be silenced because there will be no conservative voices in WDC, The few from this state will be yelled and screamed at, not unlike some in our gallery, by the Democrats controlling our congress."
2:30 p.m.
The Republican group that designed Indiana's proposed redistricting map
The reshaped congressional map proposed by Indiana House Republicans was designed by a conservative national redistricting group with deep ties to the Republican Party.
This week — and during today's session — Adam Kincaid, a longtime political operative who has worked on Republican redistricting efforts for over a decade, was identified as the map's architect.
Kincaid leads the National Republican Redistricting Trust. The group was involved in creating the maps that Texas passed into law.
Kincaid testified in October in a lawsuit over Texas' new map that argued the map targeted minorities, according to the El Paso Times. The Supreme Court upheld the new Texas map earlier this month.
2:15 p.m.
Sen. Fady Qaddoura speaks against the bill
“The fact that something is legal doesn’t make it right,” said Fady Qaddoura (D-Indianapolis). “Legality alone cannot be our compass to sideline and supress the will of the people.”
2:03 p.m.
Sen. Ryan Mishler shows up
One of the two Republicans not in attendance when the session began, Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka), has appeared in the Senate chamber.
1:45 p.m.
Session begins
The Indiana Senate's session has started for a vote on the third and final reading of the redistricting legislation, with two Republican senators not in attendance.
Sen. Scott Alexander (R-Muncie) recently had open-heart surgery according to Sen. Linda Rogers (R-Granger), as Indiana Capital Chronicle reported. Sen. Ryan Mishler (R-Mishawaka) has been absent for several days.
Sen. Mike Young (R-Indianapolis), who supports redistricting, began the session by speaking about courage.
"Whether we choose to play in the game or we choose to play not in the game will determine the history and future of our state," Young said.
1:05 p.m.
Protesters gather outside Indiana Senate chamber
Dozens of protesters have filled the corridors outside the Senate chamber before today's vote. Several protesters are carrying signs reading "Hoosiers Don't Cheat!!!" and others are directly targeting the bill's biggest proponent, President Donald Trump.
12:24 p.m.
Police investigate threats against lawmakers Clere, Yocum
Law enforcement is investigating threats directed at two Republican state lawmakers as the legislature prepares for its final vote on redistricting. WTHI-TV reports that State Rep. Tim Yocum (R-Clinton) was the target of a reported pipe bomb threat during the contentious lead-up to the session.
In a similar incident, the Indianapolis Star reports that State Rep. Ed Clere (R-New Albany) received a threat that prompted police to sweep his home for explosives, though no device was found. Clere has previously spoken out against the mid-decade redistricting proposal, describing the process as "gamesmanship."
Similar incidents of "swatting" and threats have targeted other Indiana officials after criticism by Trump on social media.
11:00 a.m.
Here’s how the map would change the Democratic-stronghold Marion County
The proposed redistricting map would fracture Marion County, which is currently centered in the 7th Congressional District, into four separate sprawling districts that stretch into rural areas of the state.
Under the plan, precincts in Pike Township would shift to the 4th District, which extends west to the Illinois border, while southern neighborhoods would be absorbed into the 9th District, reaching more than 100 miles south to the Kentucky border.
This division effectively dissolves the state's most racially diverse district, where nearly one-third of residents are Black, and would likely end the tenure of U.S. Rep. André Carson by placing Indianapolis voters in largely Republican-leaning areas.
Opponents of the map argue that the move is a deliberate attempt to strip minority voters of their political influence.
"It's just a huge injustice," said Ebony Barney, a public health worker whose north side neighborhood would be redrawn into a district snaking east to Ohio. "I find it hard to understand how so many people could be supportive of there being absolutely no representation of so many people."
However, some conservative residents in Indianapolis support the changes, arguing that the current map leaves them without a voice in a Democrat-dominated city.
"For a constituent like me, this is the only way you break one party rule in Indianapolis," said Adam Harvey, a resident of Lawrence Township who believes the new lines would provide necessary political competition.
9:45 a.m.
Trump issues final ultimatum to Senate Republicans
Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump injected fresh volatility into the debate with a direct warning to Indiana lawmakers on Truth Social.
Trump lashed out at the "slow walking" of House Bill 1032, explicitly targeting the Republican holdouts who have threatened to sink the redistricting map.
"Indiana Senate Republicans must get TOUGH and pass the new Map TODAY. No more excuses! The Radical Left is destroying our Country and we need Strong Borders and Fair Maps to save it. Any Senator who votes against this Great Map is voting with the Democrats and will be primaried. GET IT DONE!"
Trump also targeted Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray: “I will do everything in my power to make sure they will not hurt the Republican Party, and our Country, again.”
This message marks a significant escalation from his post over the weekend, which merely "encouraged" specific undecided Sens. like Dan Dernulc (R-Highland) and Greg Goode (R-Terre Haute).
9:15 a.m.
What's happening today?
The Indiana Senate is expected to vote late this afternoon on House Bill 1032, a proposal that would radically reshape the state’s congressional map less than four years after the last redistricting and give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections for the U.S. House.
The proposal: The bill, authored by Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) and sponsored by Sen. Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton), allows the General Assembly to redraw districts at times "other than" the traditional post-census session.
The impact: The new map effectively dismantles the current 7th Congressional District. The Democratic-strong hold of Marion County would be split into four different congressional districts with rural communities: the 4th, 6th, 7th and 9th.
The controversy: Democrats and voting rights advocates say the new map is designed to dilute Indianapolis voters. President Trump has urged Indiana lawmakers to pass the new map to help Republicans secure a national majority, framing the vote as a necessary step to defeat the "Radical Left."
The Senate convenes at 1:30 p.m. for the third reading of the bill. It will be live streamed here. If it passes, it heads to Gov. Mike Braun’s desk.
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