Indiana Senate Republicans reject Trump-backed redistricting push, decline to meet in December

Indiana Senate Republicans are refusing to return for a December redistricting session sought by President Donald Trump a decision first broadcasted Friday by the Indiana Capital Chronicle and one that marks a notable break from Trump s political operation as states prepare for the midterms Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray announced in a written message that there were not enough votes within the GOP caucus to reopen Indiana s congressional map according to the Chronicle Lawmakers had been expected to reconvene Dec for what would have been an distinctive mid-decade attempt to redraw all nine congressional districts Over the last several months Senate Republicans have given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state s congressional maps Bray noted according to the Chronicle There are not enough votes to move that idea forward Gov Mike Braun had called for lawmakers to meet in November to take up redistricting and argued that Republicans should add additional GOP-leaning districts before Democrats in other states complete their own mapping changes TRUMP-BACKED MAP PREEMINENCE IN MISSOURI COULD TRIGGER REDISTRICTING BATTLES IN THESE STATES He urged lawmakers to show up and do the right thing according to a comment disclosed by his office Indiana s current map drawn by Republicans in gives the GOP a - congressional advantage Redistricting supporters had yearned lawmakers to craft a map in which all nine districts favored Republicans based on Census figures The push came after months of pressure from Trump allies including strategist Marty Obst who now leads the group Fair Maps Indiana Obst reported the Chronicle that Bray blocked the special session and warned that decisions have consequences JUDGE SET TO CHOOSE NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAP IN FIGHT THAT COULD RESHAPE HOUSE CONTROLEight Republican state senators had publicly opposed redistricting while had expressed sponsorship the Chronicle published Undecided senators were targeted with a wave of television digital and mail advertising campaigns from pro-redistricting groups Democrats fast praised Bray s announcement Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder reported in a report to the Chronicle that Washington insiders pressured the governor to rig Indiana s congressional maps calling the collapse of the effort a win for all of us Citizens polling cited by the Chronicle suggested that Indiana voters also leaned against revisiting the maps University of Indianapolis political science professor Laura Merrifield Wilson recounted the Chronicle that surveys indicated roughly a two-to-one margin opposing a mid-decade redraw Turning down Trump s request makes Indiana the first Republican-led state to formally reject his redistricting push The president has encouraged similar efforts in several states with varying results Various of the effort s loudest supporters signaled they would continue pressing the issue State Sen Liz Brown called the move cowardly on social media according to screenshots published by the Chronicle and vowed to raise redistricting again when lawmakers return for Organization Day next week The White House Bray s office and Braun s office did not directly respond to Fox News Digital s request for comment