New Republican-drawn congressional map approved by Indiana House

On Friday, the Indiana House voted in favor of a new congressional map aimed at increasing Republican representation by two seats, setting the stage for a contentious debate in the state Senate. The measure passed with a 57-41 vote.

Senate Republican leaders have expressed doubts about the level of support for the plan, which seeks to give the GOP control over all nine of Indiana's congressional districts. The White House has been actively pressuring Indiana lawmakers to revise the map, as former President Donald Trump looks to strengthen the partys narrow majority in the U.S. House ahead of next years midterm elections.

The redistricting effort has sparked tension within the party, resulting in threats and harassment against Republicans opposing the plan. At least 11 state Republican officials have faced "swatting" attempts, where false police reports are used to trigger emergency responses, alongside other threats.

Currently, Representatives Andr Carson and Frank Mrvan are Indiana's only Democrats in Congress. The proposed map would split their districts, dividing Indianapolis into four sections to reduce the Democratic vote concentration and splitting the Democratic-leaning northwest into two separate districts.

Rep. Ben Smaltz, the Republican sponsor, emphasized that the map was politically driven and was created by the National Republican Redistricting Trust, the same group behind Texas new map. The House debate lasted over three hours, with Democrats voicing strong opposition.

State House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta criticized the map as a direct attack on democratic representation. Democratic Rep. Matt Pierce condemned the rushed process and the effort to minimize Democratic influence, noting that combining urban and rural areas under one representative would make effective governance challenging.

While House Speaker Todd Huston briefly spoke in support of the map, Smaltz was the only other Republican defending it during the debate, arguing that the legislature has the authority to revise maps when circumstances change.

The redistricting push in Indiana has sparked protests at the Statehouse and is part of a wider trend of aggressive mid-decade map revisions influenced by Trump. Recent court rulings and new maps in states like Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, and Utah have created opportunities for party gains, while Democrats in California are implementing their own redistricting strategy to offset Republican advances. Efforts are also underway in Florida and Virginia to redraw congressional lines.

Author: Aiden Foster