After refusing calls to convene on possible mid-cycle congressional redistricting, Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-37, announced Tuesday his chamber will, in fact, reconvene Dec. 8.
The switch follows a weeks-long pressure campaign on the Indiana General Assembly from state and national Republicans, including Gov. Mike Braun and President Donald Trump. Numerous state lawmakers, including Braun, reported being the subject of swatting and other intimidation after Bray said redistricting lacked the necessary votes to pass.
Of Indiana’s nine U.S. congressional seats, two are held by Democrats. Though no map has been presented, redistricting could make one, or both, Democrat-held districts more favorable to Republicans. States like Texas, Missouri and California have pushed for similar redrawn maps to benefit the majority parties.
“The issue of redrawing Indiana’s congressional maps mid-cycle has received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state,” Bray said in a statement. “To resolve this issue, the Senate intends to reconvene as part of the regular 2026 session on Dec. 8 and make a final decision that week on any redistricting proposal sent from the House.”
The House will reconvene Dec. 1 on “all legislative business,” which includes revising the congressional map, Speaker Todd Huston, R-37, said in a statement Tuesday.
“This Thanksgiving, I am grateful for both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly convening to vote on fair maps,” Braun wrote Tuesday on X. “Hoosiers deserve to have fair representation in Washington and now the General Assembly needs to deliver a 9-0 map which will help level the playing field.”
In a statement Tuesday, Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-40, called the move “dangerous.”
“Senate Republicans looked directly at their constituents and said, ‘we heard you, but we will not listen to you,’” Yoder, who represents most of Monroe County, said in the statement. “This after Senate Republicans publicly stated multiple times their constituents do not want our maps rigged. They said the votes were not there. They said this entire push was tearing our state apart and Hoosiers care far more about not being able to afford everyday life than they do political games. And yet the moment Donald Trump intensified his bullying campaign, they caved.”
Trump, who previously vowed to back primary challenges to Indiana Republicans against redistricting, commended the Senate reconvening in a post on his social media platform Truth Social.
“I am glad to hear the Indiana House is stepping up to do the right thing, and I hope the Senate finds the Votes,” he wrote. “If they do, I will make sure that all of those people supporting me win their Primaries, and go on to Greatness but, if they don’t, I will partner with the incredibly powerful MAGA Grassroots Republicans to elect STRONG Republicans who are ready to do what is needed to protect our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
