Washington, D.C. — Today, when Vice President Vance used American taxpayer dollars to visit Governor Mike Braun (R-IN) as part of Trump’s pressure campaign to further gerrymander Indiana’s congressional map, they were faced with bipartisan opposition from Hoosiers. 

As the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) President, John Bisognano, told POLITICO: “I can’t think of a weaker position for a president to be in than sending his vice president around state to state to beg them to gerrymander and cheat on their behalf. Being in a position where their legislation and popularity is so low that this is their only option is breathtaking.”

It’s no wonder Vice President Vance and Governor Braun literally hid behind a curtain, and Indiana Republican legislators were terrified to talk to reporters.

Protesters filled the Indiana Capitol to make it clear that Hoosier hospitality does not apply to outsiders looking to silence their voices at the ballot box. 

Notable Indiana Republicans are even opposing this push. This POLITICO headline says it all: “The godfather of the Indiana GOP slams Trump’s redistricting push,” describing major pushback from former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN). “It would just be wrong,” Daniels told POLITICO.“People there have a right to pick the person they want.” Meanwhile, Daniels is not the only Republican to question the move, as Indiana Republican operative Pete Seat pointed out, “How will they sell this to Hoosiers?”

For at least half a century, Indiana state law has dictated that Hoosiers redraw the redistricting maps every 10 years when the census count occurs. Republican and Democratic governors have abided by this law without a problem. If that’s the case, why would Governor Braun call a special session now to all of a sudden flout that law in order to gerrymander? Because he’s so afraid of Donald Trump, he’s willing to sacrifice the rights of Hoosiers. 

As NDRC President John Bisognano pointed out in his statement, “Republicans in the Hoosier State have a choice. They can stand up against the authoritarian regime in Washington and help stop this attempt to steal an election – just as Republicans in Georgia and Arizona did in 2020 – or they can roll over to Donald Trump, sacrificing the rights and freedoms of all Americans, and see the wall of resistance Texas Republicans are seeing right now.”

We will see if Governor Braun sides with Hoosiers or if he rolls right over at Donald Trump’s request.

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