INDIANAPOLIS—Vice President JD Vance met with Indiana Gov. Mike Braun and key legislative leaders on Aug. 7 to debate altering the state’s congressional districts earlier than subsequent yr’s midterm elections.
The closed-door convention on the Indiana Statehouse included Home Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Professional Tem Rodric Bray, each Republicans.
The assembly got here amid Republican-led states’ efforts to redraw their congressional maps to protect or enlarge the GOP’s slim majority within the U.S. Home of Representatives.
The occasion befell as Texas Republicans are trying to redraw their congressional map. Congressional maps are usually redrawn as soon as every decade, following the nation’s census.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbot referred to as a particular session of the state Legislature to think about redistricting after being notified by the Division of Justice that 4 congressional districts in Houston and Dallas may be unconstitutional resulting from “racial gerrymandering.”
The districts seem to group minority voters into “coalition districts,” the place no single racial group types a majority, which violates the Voting Rights Act, in response to the Division of Justice.
Some Texas Democratic lawmakers have frustrated the redistricting effort by leaving the state. That ensures that the Legislature can’t obtain a quorum, the minimal variety of lawmakers required to cross laws.
For Indiana to think about redistricting, Braun must name a particular session of the state Legislature.
Republicans maintain a super-majority in each chambers, which would depart Democrats powerless to dam such a transfer as their Texas colleagues are doing.
State Sen. JD Ford, a Democrat, stated he anticipated the Legislature to maneuver ahead with the plan.
“My intestine tells me that sooner or later, we’re going to be in a particular session to redraw these district strains,” Ford said in televised remarks on Fox59.
Ford, who had taken half in a protest rally on the Statehouse on the day of the Vance assembly, added, “We wish folks to know that our districts usually are not on the market.”
The governor issued a short assertion on social media after the assembly however declined to offer particulars or trace at an consequence.
“It was nice to satisfy with @VP Vance in the present day. We mentioned quite a few points, and I used to be happy to spotlight a few of the nice issues taking place in Indiana,” Braun wrote.
Bray likewise declined to present specifics of the assembly.
“I appreciated the chance to listen to from the Vice President on a wide range of points, which we’ll proceed to speak by way of within the days forward,” Bray stated in a written assertion.
Huston didn’t touch upon the assembly.
Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.), one in every of two Democrats representing the state in Washington, stated the try was proof of the Trump administration’s failure to manipulate successfully.
“They know that their solely hope to keep up management is to stress the Indiana Normal Meeting to violate the Indiana Structure and redistrict U.S. Home of Consultant seats mid-decade,” Mrvan stated in a Might 5 statement.
Mrvan’s First Congressional District is rated “Possible Democrat” by election analysts on the Cook dinner Political Report. Mrvan’s benefit within the district fell from 16.2 p.c in 2020 to eight.5 p.c in 2024.
Rep. Andre Carson (D-Ind.) represents the reliably Democratic Seventh Congressional District, which incorporates Indianapolis. Cook dinner charges the seat as “Stable Democrat.”
Govs. Kathy Hochul of New York and Gavin Newsom of California, each Democrats, have said they’re contemplating redistricting plans to counter the Republican effort.
Newsom stated on Aug. 4 that he plans to name a particular election to ask voters to permit the state Meeting to redraw district maps.
The Epoch Occasions discovered blended opinions in talking with lawmakers from these states.
New York Democratic state Sen. Jabari Brisport stated on Aug. 6 that he knew of no plans for “retaliatory redistricting” and stated he would wish time to think about the matter if Hochul did name for a particular session.
California Assemblymember Lori Wilson, a Democrat, stated her state was contemplating the matter.
“You battle hearth with hearth,” Wilson advised The Epoch Occasions on Aug. 6. “Texas is doing it—we are able to, too. Our management is saying that is on the desk.”
John Haughey contributed to this report.
When you discovered this text fascinating, please think about supporting conventional journalism
Our first version was printed 25 years in the past from a basement in Atlanta. At present, The Epoch Occasions brings fact-based, award-winning journalism to tens of millions of People.
Our journalists have been threatened, arrested, and assaulted, however our dedication to unbiased journalism has by no means wavered. This yr marks our twenty fifth yr of unbiased reporting, free from company and political affect.
That’s why you’re invited to a limited-time introductory provide — simply $1 per week — so you may be a part of tens of millions already celebrating unbiased information.
