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Indiana lawmakers on Thursday rejected a mid-decade overhaul of the state\u2019s congressional map that would\u2019ve increased the odds of sending more Republicans to Washington, taking pressure off Illinois Democrats to jump into a national redistricting tit-for-tat started by President Donald Trump.<\/p>\n
Twenty-one senators from the Republican supermajority and all 10 of the Hoosier chamber\u2019s Democrats voted down the redistricting proposal which passed the state\u2019s House last week.<\/p>\n
Trump has urged GOP-led states to gerrymander their U.S. House districts ahead of the midterms to create more winnable seats for Republicans. It\u2019s an unusual move, since the district boundaries are usually adjusted based on the census every 10 years.<\/p>\n
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker and the state\u2019s other top Democrats had signaled they would respond in kind<\/a> if Indiana reworked the maps to expand the GOP advantage in its congressional delegation from 7-2 to 9-0.<\/p>\n Pritzker, a vocal Trump opponent and potential 2028 presidential contender, suggested Illinois\u2019 threat to retaliate helped defeat the measure across the border \u2014 and he didn\u2019t rule out an effort to expand his state\u2019s 14-3 Democratic edge.<\/p>\n \u201cOur neighbors in Indiana have stood up to Trump\u2019s threats and political pressure, instead choosing to do what\u2019s right for their constituents and our democracy,\u201d Pritzker said in a statement. \u201cIllinois will remain vigilant against his map rigging \u2014 our efforts to respond and stop his campaign are being heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Illinois House Speaker Emanuel \u201cChris\u201d Welch agreed with Pritzker, adding that \u201cwe remain vigilant and committed to protecting our democracy.\u201d Illinois Senate President added that \u201cwe will review our options as needed.\u201d<\/p>\n Republican Indiana state Sen. Mike Gaskill, who carried the bill, pointed to Illinois\u2019 heavily gerrymandered congressional map as a prime example of why the GOP should \u201cfight as hard for our side as they do for theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey take full advantage of the Democratic majority in Chicago to ace out these people that have probably got a lot in common with us \u2014 rural Midwesterners, hardworking men and women, blue-collar, farmers,\u201d Gaskill said during Senate floor debate. \u201cLook how they drew those maps. They want you to play by a different set of rules than what they\u2019re willing to play by.\u201d<\/p>\n But fellow Republican Sen. Spencer Deery said there was \u201cno justification that outweighs the harms it would inflict upon the people\u2019s faith in the integrity of our elections and our system of government.\u201d<\/p>\n Ahead of the vote, Trump again criticized Indiana senators who resisted the plan, repeating his vow to back primary challengers against them.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Republicans will not do what is necessary to save our Country, they will eventually lose everything to the Democrats,\u201d Trump wrote on social media. Some Indiana lawmakers have also received violent threats during the debate over the last month. Half of the state Senate is up for reelection in 2026.<\/p>\n Pritzker said the \u201csubsequent threats of violence against these legislators have been unacceptable and must be denounced \u2014 not normalized.\u201d<\/p>\n Republicans have carved out more favorable maps in Texas<\/u><\/a>, Missouri and North Carolina. Democrats have responded in kind in California, as several other states consider joining the map melee.<\/p>\n