Trump blasts Indiana state lawmakers for not pursuing redistricting efforts

President Donald Trump criticized Indiana’s Republican state lawmakers on Sunday for failing to move forward with redistricting efforts and pushed Republicans who oppose redistricting to lose their seats.

In an article published in Truth Social, the president said he was “very disappointed in the Republicans in the Indiana State Senate,” specifically calling out Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray and state Sen. Greg Goode.

“Because of these two politically correct “gentlemen” and a few others, they could deprive the Republicans of a majority in the House, A VERY BIG DEAL!” Trump said in the message.

Indiana is one of the last states to struggle with redistricting after Texas’ efforts launched a mid-decade redistricting battle in state legislatures across the country. Lawmakers from both parties have sought to redraw congressional lines to favor their party’s candidates ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Earlier this month in California, voters approved a redistricting measure championed by Gov. Gavin Newsom, who introduced it in response to Texas’ new map.

In his message, Trump said Republicans who vote against redistricting efforts would face major challenges. He said Indiana lawmakers should “do their job” or “let’s get them out of office, ASAP.”

Reached for comment, a spokesperson for Goode noted that the state senator said earlier this month that “he would not take a public position unless and until he sees a map and legislation formally introduced on the floor of the State Senate.”

“He respectfully maintains that position,” spokesman Lance Gideon said.

Trump’s post comes days after Bray, the state GOP Senate leader, announced that the chamber did not have enough support to pursue redistricting efforts.

“Over the past several months, Senate Republicans have looked very seriously and thoughtfully at the idea of ​​redrawing our state’s congressional maps,” Bray said in a statement Friday. “Today, I am announcing that there are not enough votes to move this idea forward, and that the Senate will not reconvene in December.”

Bray’s announcement came despite pressure from the Trump administration to make Indiana the next Republican-led state to pass new congressional maps to favor Republican candidates in the midterms. Trump called lawmakers, and Vice President JD Vance visited the state to discuss redistricting.

Trump also criticized Republican Gov. Mike Braun, saying in his message that the governor “may not be working the way he should to get the votes needed.”

Braun previously called a special legislative session in October for lawmakers to consider redistricting efforts. The governor pushed for redistricting again on Friday, saying, “Our state senators need to do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps. »

Representatives for Braun and Bray did not immediately respond to requests for comment.