Republicans join Democrats rejecting Trump’s map

The Indiana Senate has rejected a voting map meant to favour Republicans in the 2026 midterms, defying a months-long pressure campaign by the White House.

Enough Republican lawmakers in the state joined all Democrats to resist the changes that otherwise would occur every 10 years to reflect population change.

US President Donald Trump’s call for Republican leaders to advantageously redraw maps to favour the party has sparked a redistricting battle across the nation.

Multiple states have moved to redistrict, including Republican-led Texas and Democratic-led California, two of the country’s largest states.

Other states where redistricting efforts have been initiated or passed include Utah, Ohio, New Hampshire, Indiana and Illinois.

In Indiana, the new map passed last week by the House would have redistricted the state and led to Republicans having an advantage in two extra seats, but it was voted down on Thursday by a 19-31 vote.

“My opposition to mid-cycle gerrymandering is not in contrast to my conservative principles, my opposition is driven by them,” Republican Senator Spencer Deery said ahead of the vote.

“As long as I have breath, I will use my voice to resist a federal government that attempts to bully, direct, and control this state or any state. Giving the federal government more power is not conservative.”

Indiana Republicans’ defiance comes after direct pressure from Trump.

On Wednesday, Trump warned on his social media platform Truth Social that Republicans who did not support the initiative could risk losing their seats.

He directly addressed the Republican leader of the state Senate, Ryan Bray, who had resisted efforts, calling him “the only person in the United States of America who is against Republicans picking up extra seats”.

In the months prior, Trump hosted Indiana lawmakers at the White House, seeking to win over the holdouts.

The president also sent Vice-President JD Vance to Indiana twice to shore up support.