Indiana Senate leader says GOP does not have votes for redistricting

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, a Republican, on Friday confirmed that his party does not have the votes in the upper chamber necessary to advance a redistricting effort in a special session next month.

The Trump administration and state leaders have launched redistricting efforts in multiple states this year, which would ideally help the Republican Party secure more seats in Congress during next year's midterms. Some Democratic-led states like California are redrawing their own maps in retaliation of potential conservative gains. 

Indiana Republican Gov. Mike Braun called for the special session last month, which would weigh whether to redraw the congressional lines. But eight Republican state senators have already said they would vote against the effort.

“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 said in a statement. “Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December.” 

The comment is also a major blow to the Trump administration after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance both heavily pushed for the redistricting effort to take place in Indiana. 

Republicans have had some success in redistricting though, with new maps having passed in Texas, Missouri, Ohio and North Carolina. 

Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage.