Trump Holds Secret Indiana Redistricting Meeting
Indiana GOP leaders face pressure to redraw congressional maps.
President Donald Trump met privately with Indiana’s Republican legislative leaders in the Oval Office on Tuesday to push for mid-cycle redistricting, aiming to secure a Republican advantage in the 2026 U.S. House midterms, an Indiana House spokesperson confirmed. The high-stakes meeting, part of a broader White House State Leadership Conference, comes as Trump urges GOP-led states to redraw congressional maps to bolster Republican seats.
Vice President JD Vance also pressed the issue, addressing nearly 60 Indiana lawmakers at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, urging them to “fight and support Republicans” by redrawing maps. While some lawmakers, like Sen. Liz Brown, emerged supportive, others remain skeptical, highlighting a divide within Indiana’s GOP. Brown posted on social media, “Hoosiers deserve fair representation in DC. President Trump knows what’s at stake with liberal gerrymandering in states like California.”
The push follows Texas Republicans’ move to redraw maps for five additional GOP seats, prompting California Democrats to propose a counter-vote in November. Indiana, where Republicans hold a 7-2 congressional edge, could target the 1st District, a Democratic stronghold near Chicago held by Rep. Frank Mrvan, or the 7th District in Indianapolis, though altering the latter risks controversy by diluting Black voter influence.
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Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray attended the Oval Office meeting but offered no specifics. Bray’s statement noted that while redistricting was discussed, the conference focused on issues like energy and immigration. State Rep. Craig Haggard, who met with Vance, said there’s no consensus yet, adding, “We won’t know until we see actual maps.” He acknowledged the GOP’s desire to maintain House control but noted a “perfect world” would keep current maps.
Opposition is growing among some Indiana Republicans, wary of political backlash and costs. State Sen. Spencer Deery warned that mid-cycle redistricting could set a dangerous precedent, allowing parties to “select new voters” whenever elections loom. Despite Republican supermajorities in both chambers, enough GOP dissent could stall the effort, though Democrats lack the numbers to block a special session.
Gov. Mike Braun, a Trump ally, has signaled openness to a special session but awaits legislative support. Vance’s earlier visit to Indianapolis on Aug. 7 underscored the White House’s intensifying pressure. As national redistricting battles heat up, Indiana remains a critical test case for Trump’s influence over state GOP leaders.
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