Washington, D.C. – This week, Indiana Republican legislative leadership announced the state legislature will convene in December to consider mid-decade gerrymandering, despite widespread opposition from Hoosiers. The announcement follows a months-long effort by the White House—including two taxpayer-funded trips to the state, threats to cut federal funding, and calls from President Trump—to pressure Republican legislators to ignore their own constituents and draw a mid-decade gerrymander. 

“Given Hoosiers overwhelmingly oppose mid-decade gerrymandering, it would be clear that Indiana Republicans would be doing the opposite of what their constituents are demanding if they redraw the lines,” said National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC) Executive Director Marina Jenkins. “The pressure to redraw Indiana’s congressional map is not coming from Hoosiers, it’s coming from politicians and special interests in D.C.”

Poll after poll has made it clear that Indiana voters do not want their congressional map redrawn mid-decade. Over the past few months, Hoosiers have protested against a mid-decade gerrymander at the statehouse, outside the governor’s mansion, in downtown Indianapolis, and at the No Kings rally, to name a few. They’ve reached out to their state legislators and signed petitions urging them to reject a redraw.

At a listening session hosted by Republican state Sen. Greg Goode in Terre Haute on Saturday, the Indy Star reported that all residents who spoke at the event expressed opposition to a mid-decade gerrymander. Zero spoke in favor of it.

Even major figures in the Indiana Republican Party have come out in opposition to a mid-decade gerrymander.

Former Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels told POLITICO in August: “It would just be wrong.” He went further, penning an op-ed in The Washington Post to urge legislators to listen to their constituents instead of the White House. “Their duty is to the citizens and the future of our state, not to a national political organization or a temporary occupant of the White House,” Governor Daniels wrote.

Former Indiana Lt. Governor Sue Ellspermann—who also served Indiana’s Election and Reapportionment Committee while she served as a State Representative—echoed that opposition, writing in the Indy Star: “While candidates are party affiliated, we are elected by voters to represent all citizens in our districts, not just those who voted for us. Redistricting mid-decade serves a partisan purpose, not Hoosiers or the American people.”

###