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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowNearly three months ago in this space, IBJ wrote an editorial urging Indiana lawmakers to resist the call to redraw the state’s congressional maps to try to flip the two of nine congressional districts represented by Democrats to the GOP.
It was the week Vice President JD Vance came to Indianapolis to talk with Gov. Mike Braun and GOP leaders about creating new districts now, rather than waiting until after the next decennial U.S. Census—the time when the Indiana Constitution calls for lawmakers to do the work.
We didn’t like the idea of further politicizing the map-making process then, and we don’t like it anymore now. But Braun—the only person who can call lawmakers into a special session—has decided he’s all in.
Back in August, when Vance came to town, the Republican governor was noncommittal. “I’m going to listen and see where they’re coming from,” Braun told reporters about the White House visit. “I’m going to be listening along with the other two leaders in the Legislature, and everybody’s going to probably have a little different point of view.”
Since then, he’s signaled—or said outright—that Indiana should move forward with redistricting. And this week, he announced a special session to convene on Nov. 3—although legislative leaders said lawmakers will actually conduct their business later in the month.
The governor’s move comes despite the fact that Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, has said repeatedly that there aren’t enough votes in his caucus (which holds a supermajority in the chamber) to approve new maps.
The governor is undeterred, telling WIBC’s Tony Katz that, “I think once this gets to where it goes public, you’re going to see that the votes will be there.”
Braun’s argument for redistricting is that Democrats haven’t been “playing by the rules” of redistricting. We’re not sure what that means exactly. What have Democrats been doing in the states where they’re in control that Republicans haven’t been doing in the states they control?
In Indiana, Republicans hold seven of nine seats, nearly 80%. But the Republican voter baseline in Indiana is closer to 60%. Is that the result of gerrymandering? We can make an argument yes or no. Redistricting is far more complicated than critics would have you believe—especially if the people creating the maps try to accomplish the often-competing goals of having districts that are competitive and keeping communities of interest together.
But we think the current maps are pretty fair. The districts are relatively compact; they keep many communities of interest together; and they split fewer cities, counties and townships than have many maps in the past.
Also, we don’t know that it’s wise to have a congressional delegation that is of all one party—especially when the other party is in power.
We said in August that redistricting mid-cycle would set a terrible precedent (one that could come back to bite Republicans in the future), and we still believe that to be the case. There’s just no reason for it.•
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The Indiana General Assembly under the super majority for the last couple of decades has consistently shown that it doesn’t care what constituents think or want, so redistricting in 2025 is more likely than not to happen.
They will do their dirty mapping deed behind closed locked doors . The same way they have been imposing their ideology against the will of the general population since they cheated their way into a false super stupid super majority that only exists in the rigged legislature body .
I suspect that the situation is being made very clear to Indiana’s legislators who haven’t yet gotten with the program.
Trump and/or his surrogates will remind them that 44% of Indiana’s operating budget comes from the federal government, and it would be a shame if federal priorities changed and that money stopped coming.
Collectively, they will either do what Trump wants or we will lose the money. Individually, he will find someone to eliminate (primary) them.
It’s almost as though Trump is a crime boss.
https://indianacapitalchronicle.com/2025/02/28/where-do-federal-funding-cuts-leave-indiana/
I could care less if this gets done or not. But here is my thing. The current district maps did not come down from the mountain with Moses. They were arbitrarily put in place. Democrats and Republicans have altered the maps to their liking for 200+ years. So, stop acting like this is the first or last time it will be completed. Perfectly legal. Always upsetting to the opposing party. Currently we blame MAGA, Nazis, People who love antifa, People who don’t love antifa, Jews, Raciest, Braun (Who for the record I don’t care for.) As the saying goes if you don’t like the score to be rung up, do something about it. And that goes for Republicans in Marion County. Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Donald, when is the last time in the state of Indiana that maps were drawn arbitrarily in the middle of a decade and not due to a census? And not all the maps, just the US congressional ones?
Republicans had all the power in the world to pass whatever maps they wanted just 4 years ago. That was the time to draw a 9-0 map. If they want to do that in 2031, they are welcome.
Is it legal to redraw whenever they want? Sure, if you think that’s the best use of their limited time. Given the challenges Indiana still is facing despite a decade of complete Republican control, i don’t think it is.