The Indiana Senate announced it will not reconvene in December to pursue redistricting after Republican senators concluded they lack the votes to pass a new congressional map. Gov. Mike Braun criticized the decision while the Trump team began inviting lawmakers to the Oval Office; one GOP senator said he plans to attend but has not seen any proposed maps. The move halts a White House effort to redraw Indiana’s nine districts to favor Republicans and highlights resistance despite a sizable GOP legislative majority.
Indiana Senate Won’t Reconvene for Redistricting, Stalling Trump’s Push to Redraw Map
The Indiana Senate announced it will not reconvene in December to pursue redistricting after Republican senators concluded they lack the votes to pass a new congressional map. Gov. Mike Braun criticized the decision while the Trump team began inviting lawmakers to the Oval Office; one GOP senator said he plans to attend but has not seen any proposed maps. The move halts a White House effort to redraw Indiana’s nine districts to favor Republicans and highlights resistance despite a sizable GOP legislative majority.
07:58 AM, 11/15/2025Politics
Senate declines December session, saying GOP lacks votes
The Indiana Senate announced on Nov. 14 that it will not reconvene in December to consider redrawing the state's congressional districts, effectively blocking President Donald Trump’s effort to reshape Indiana’s nine-seat map ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said Republicans had given the idea “very serious and thoughtful consideration” but that there were not enough votes to move forward. "There are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December," Bray said.
Why the session was called off
Gov. Mike Braun had urged lawmakers to meet during the first two weeks of December to take up redistricting and fold it into the 2026 legislative session. Without the Senate’s participation, however, the Indiana General Assembly cannot pass such legislation.
The Senate Republican conference holds 40 seats. With the House Republican caucus reportedly on board and all Democrats assumed to oppose the plan, Senate Republicans would have needed 25 "yes" votes to approve a new map. IndyStar’s public count showed 13 senators backing the push, eight opposed, eight undecided and 11 silent — not enough to secure passage.
Pressure from Washington and outside groups
The White House and allied groups stepped up pressure for months. Vice President J.D. Vance reportedly met privately at the Statehouse twice. Outside groups, including the Club for Growth, ran ads in the Indianapolis market, and a newly formed group called Fair Maps Indiana — organized by former Trump campaign staffers — launched voter outreach efforts. Some voters in affected senate districts also received calls or texts from lesser-known 501(c)(4) organizations.
Following the Senate announcement, the Trump team began inviting some Indiana lawmakers to the Oval Office; Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman of Indianapolis said he received an invitation and plans to go, though he added he has not yet seen any proposed map.
Gov. Mike Braun said he was disappointed and urged senators to "do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps," arguing that Hoosiers’ voices in Washington should not be diluted by what he called Democratic gerrymandering.
Local reaction and implications
U.S. Rep. André Carson, whose 7th District stood to be affected, praised the decision and framed it as an example of Indiana’s independent political traditions. "Hoosiers do things differently. We’re about collaboration, not division," Carson said, thanking legislators who resisted outside pressure.
It remains unclear whether the Indiana House will still convene on Dec. 1; House Speaker Todd Huston did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Organization Day, the ceremonial start of the 2026 session, is scheduled for Nov. 18.
Reporting note: This story was published by the Indianapolis Star and updated with new information. Contact IndyStar Statehouse reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on X @kayla_dwyer17.