Indiana House Passes Redistricting Bill as GOP Though Outcome Uncertain In Senate

The Indiana House has passed a bill to redraw the state’s congressional districts, sending the proposal to the Senate, where it has encountered stronger resistance. The bill passed 57-41. Twelve Republicans joined Democrats in opposing the measure, WTHR reported.

Two representatives were excused from voting. Among the Republicans who voted no were two members of House leadership, including State Rep. Greg Steuerwald of District 40, who helped draw the maps approved in 2021. Only two Republicans spoke in favor of the bill during Friday’s session.

The bill’s author, State Rep. Ben Smaltz of District 52, said nothing in state law prevents lawmakers from redrawing districts whenever they decide it is appropriate, as long as constitutional requirements are met.

House Speaker Todd Huston of District 37 also urged support. He called the issue difficult and argued that Indiana is not operating outside the national trend.

“Nationally, we don’t operate in a vacuum, and states are doing this all across the country – red and blue states – and we felt like it was important for us to be a part of that and make sure we used every tool we could to support a strong Republican majority,” Huston said.

“The fact of the matter is, states all across the country have or continue to do this,” he said. “I’ve heard we can stop it here. I don’t think anybody believes that. I don’t think what we do here will stop other states from doing it. I think it’s the place where we are right now. This is our time to act.”

The bill now moves to the Indiana Senate, where President Pro Tem Rod Bray of Martinsville has repeatedly said there are not enough votes to approve redistricting.

Several Senate Republicans have already stated their opposition to the effort, which was initiated by President Donald Trump as part of his push to maintain control of the U.S. House after the 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats spent more than three hours arguing that the proposed map divides communities of interest and weakens the voting strength of Black and brown residents, particularly in Marion County.

House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta of District 80 questioned the precedent of changing maps mid-cycle.

“What happens if elections don’t go the way people want in ’26? Are we going to come back in ’27 and start moving precincts around, move one county here and there? Or what’s going to happen?” GiaQuinta said.

“Unfortunately, now we’ve set the stage to do this, unfortunately, more often than when it should be done, which is once every 10 years.”

State Rep. Vernon Smith of District 14 told lawmakers that passing the bill would energize Democrats in future elections.

“We won’t be discouraged. We will be driven to victory. We won’t just lick our wounds. We’ll put on our armor for war,” Smith said.

“You asked for it. We’re going to give it to you.”

After the vote, Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder of Bloomington said the bill “tears apart communities, strips voters of representation they voted for and hands control to national figures who are more interested in cementing absolute power rather than solving any problems.”

“Hoosiers should pick their leaders. Politicians should not redraw the map to pick the voters. Hoosiers don’t cheat and this bill does,” Yoder said.

The vote came shortly after Gov. Mike Braun spoke outside the House chamber at a pro-redistricting rally and acknowledged the resistance in the Senate but said “we will get redistricting done.”

Braun praised Huston and House Republicans for what he called “the courage to protect Hoosier voters.”

The proposed map now sits with the Senate, which will take it up next week. The governor urged senators to move quickly. He said that even if the map is not adopted, “the discussion isn’t over.”

During Braun’s remarks, anti-redistricting protesters demonstrated from the upper floors of the rotunda and encouraged Republican lawmakers to vote no.