Indiana Republicans vote down Trump-backed redistricting map

by · UPI

Dec. 11 (UPI) -- The Indiana Senate on Thursday rejected a plan by Republicans to redraw the state's congressional district map to favor the GOP.

It was a rare setback that saw Republicans push back on President Donald Trump's quest to redraw congressional maps prior to next year's midterm elections. The Republican leaders in the Indiana Senate resisted participating in the unusual mid-decade redistricting battle playing out across the country.

GOP lawmakers have said there was not enough support among state senators to draw new maps that would essentially dismantle Indiana's two districts currently controlled by Democrats.

Leaders finally agreed to a vote to officially settle the matter after Trump threatened to support primary challengers who opposed redrawing the lines to favor Republicans. Several Indiana lawmakers were the target of threats and harassment.

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"We finally have a resolution," Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray said after the vote. Bray denied accusations made in a social media post by Vice President JD Vance that Bray was trying to kill the bill behind the scenes.

Bray contended throughout debate and discussions leading up to the vote that the Senate did not have the votes to redraw the lines.

"Typically my style is to let people vote like they want," Bray continued. "They could come with a yes or come with a no. It's exactly what I did this time."

The Senate defeated the bill 31-19. Twenty-one Republicans joined 10 Democrats to vote no. Last week, the Indiana House passed the measure approving the new congressional lines. A Indiana Senate panel on Monday then approved to legislation, moving it to the full Senate.

Bray brushed off concerns about any potential retribution for rejecting the redistricting measure, including the promised primary challenges and threats of reduced federal funding for Indiana.

"I've had lots of conversations with folks from Washington, D.C.," he continued. "Indiana will continue to function and do well."

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, expressed disappointment that "a small group of misguided State Senators have partnered with Democrats to reject this opportunity to protect Hoosiers with fair maps and to reject the leadership of President Trump."

State Sen. Chris Garten, R-Charlestown, said during floor debate that Trump has not tried to intimidate lawmakers into supporting the measure, nor threatened them with retribution if they failed to do so.

Protestors outside the chamber chanted "Liar, Liar!" while Garten spoke.

"To the spineless 'Republican' Senators who betrayed Indiana today, like Rodric Bray and Greg Goode: hope it was worth it," American First Works, a nonprofit organization founded to promote the American First Policy Institute think thank initiatives, said in a statement.

"You'll now see a voter turnout operation in your state like NEVER before."