Mid‑Decade Redistricting Push Faces Resistance

Pressure to redraw congressional maps has become a national fight, with President Trump and allies pushing GOP states for mid‑decade redistricting to try to net House seats while Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, coordinate resistance. In Indiana, Senate Republicans do not currently have the votes to pass a mid‑decade redistricting plan, with Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray’s office saying “the votes aren’t there” despite direct outreach from Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance. Gov. Mike Braun says he remains confident and has discussed a possible special session, while outside conservative activists have threatened to target holdout senators and former Gov. Mitch Daniels has urged Republicans not to cave to White House pressure. Democrats, the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus and voting‑rights advocates say mid‑cycle redistricting would disproportionately dilute Black and minority representation in districts such as Indianapolis’ 7th and the 1st and vow legal and political opposition. Similar battles are playing out in other states — in Illinois Democratic lawmakers have shown little appetite to redraw maps and warned any change would need to meet the March primary filing deadline. Persistent intraparty divisions, recent polling showing most Hoosiers oppose mid‑cycle redistricting, and tight timelines mean the current push appears stalled in key states, though the fights could still reshape the 2026 House battlefield if they proceed.