In a surprising move, Indiana Republicans have defied intense pressure from President Donald Trump by rejecting his demands that they pass a voting map meant to favor their party in next year's midterm elections. In one of the most conservative states in the US, 21 Republicans in the Senate joined all 10 Democrats to torpedo the redistricting plan by a vote of 31-19. The new map had passed the House last week.
If it had cleared the legislature, Republicans could have flipped the only two Democratic-held congressional seats in the state. Trump's call for Republican state leaders to redraw maps and help the party keep its congressional majority in Washington next year has triggered gerrymandering battles nationwide.
Republican-led Texas and Democratic-led California, two of the country's largest states, have led the charge. Other states where redistricting efforts are ongoing include Utah, Ohio, New Hampshire, Missouri, and Illinois.
Republican state Senator Spencer Deery expressed his opposition to mid-cycle gerrymandering, emphasizing that federal government overreach is against conservative values. Indiana Governor Mike Braun criticized the outcome and vowed to work with Trump against those who voted against the map.
The refusal from Indiana Republicans came after direct months of lobbying from the White House. Trump had warned that Republicans who did not support the initiative risked losing their seats, directly targeting the leader of the state Senate, Rodric Bray. Activists celebrated the rejection of the controversial map, viewing it as a victory in the fight against political manipulation.
This failed redistricting plan marks another setback for Trump at a time when the Republican party is grappling with internal strife. The ongoing debates surrounding redistricting showcase a critical moment in US politics, highlighting the division and challenges within the Republican Party and its response to changing political winds.
If it had cleared the legislature, Republicans could have flipped the only two Democratic-held congressional seats in the state. Trump's call for Republican state leaders to redraw maps and help the party keep its congressional majority in Washington next year has triggered gerrymandering battles nationwide.
Republican-led Texas and Democratic-led California, two of the country's largest states, have led the charge. Other states where redistricting efforts are ongoing include Utah, Ohio, New Hampshire, Missouri, and Illinois.
Republican state Senator Spencer Deery expressed his opposition to mid-cycle gerrymandering, emphasizing that federal government overreach is against conservative values. Indiana Governor Mike Braun criticized the outcome and vowed to work with Trump against those who voted against the map.
The refusal from Indiana Republicans came after direct months of lobbying from the White House. Trump had warned that Republicans who did not support the initiative risked losing their seats, directly targeting the leader of the state Senate, Rodric Bray. Activists celebrated the rejection of the controversial map, viewing it as a victory in the fight against political manipulation.
This failed redistricting plan marks another setback for Trump at a time when the Republican party is grappling with internal strife. The ongoing debates surrounding redistricting showcase a critical moment in US politics, highlighting the division and challenges within the Republican Party and its response to changing political winds.
