A committee of Indiana state lawmakers advanced a Republican-drawn congressional map Monday, sending it to the floor of the state Senate, where its outcome remains uncertain.
After more than six hours of testimony, the map passed out of the committee on a 6-3 vote, with one Republican, Sen. Greg Walker, joining with two Democrats in opposition. Half of the Republicans who voted "yes" suggested they did so to ensure a full vetting of the legislation on the Senate floor and hinted that their votes may change after further debate.
The map, which passed the House last week, is designed to net the GOP two seats in next year's midterm elections. The Senate is expected to vote on it this week.
The new district lines were drawn at the urging of President Donald Trump, who has been pressuring Republican legislators across the country to enact maps that shore up the party's narrow U.S. House majority.
But while Republicans in states like Texas, Missouri and North Carolina went along with Trump's wishes, Senate GOP leaders in Indiana have been resisting a mid-decade redistricting push for months, repeatedly saying there are not enough votes to pass a new map.
The White House and national Republicans have continued to escalate their pressure campaign. Trump has said he would back primary challengers to any Indiana Republicans who oppose the redrawn map.
"Why would a REAL Republican vote against this when the Dems have been doing it for years???," Trump posed on Truth Social over the weekend. "If they stupidly say no, vote them out of Office — They are not worthy — And I will be there to help!"
The increased attention has led to an uptick in threats and harassment against lawmakers in the state. At least 11 elected Republicans in Indiana have been the victims of “swatting” attempts, in which false police reports are made to draw responses from law enforcement, since Trump called on them to enact a new map.
Walker, the lone Republican on the panel who voted against the map, gave lengthy and tearful remarks about the national influence being exerted on the Legislature, the threats that he and other lawmakers have faced and his concerns about the constitutionality of the map.
“I fear for this institution, I fear for the state of Indiana, I fear for all states if we allow intimidation, threats to become the norm," he said.
Walker had said he won't seek re-election next year, though he suggested the redistricting fight has made him consider running again.
More than 100 people filed into a packed committee hearing room Monday to testify about the map, which seeks to carve up Indiana's two Democratic-controlled districts and give Republicans all nine seats.
Marion County Clerk Kate Sweeney Bell, a Democrat, said that it was not feasible to implement the new map ahead of the election and that it would cost more than $1 million.
“There is not enough time to complete the process,” she said, adding that important precinct data was missing from the bill.
Megan Robertson, testifying on behalf of Indiana Conservation Voters, argued the map divides communities in "ridiculous" ways.
“I grew up in Porter County, which this map splits in half and then divides us from our friends right next door in Lake County. Now I live in Indianapolis, which this map splits in fourths," she said. “The people who drew these maps, who are apparently in Washington, D.C., and have never been to our state, may not know how ridiculous these things may be, but everyone in this room understands it.”
After Republicans were criticized for not defending their map in a House committee hearing last week, several people testified in support of the proposal Monday.
“Just a hair over 60% of all Indiana voters in 2024 elected the current president to a four-year term. That’s the only poll that matters,” said Gregory Katter, a resident of Marion County. “Having a Speaker Johnson over a Speaker Jeffries makes a difference. It’s a choice between the president your voters elected 60 to 40 having a full term or being a lame duck fighting endless nonsense impeachments and investigations for the last half.”
