JUST IN: Red State Governor Reverses Course, Orders Special Session For Redistricting

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun is bringing lawmakers back to Indianapolis for a high-stakes redistricting showdown — answering President Donald Trump’s call to redraw congressional maps and tighten the GOP’s grip on the House.

Braun, a staunch Trump ally, announced Monday that he’s calling a special session for November 3 to rework Indiana’s congressional boundaries — a move that could shake up the state’s political landscape and add fuel to a growing national fight over mid-cycle redistricting.

Trump has been pressing Republican governors across the country to act fast, pushing for fresh maps that could boost the party’s odds in next year’s midterms. Texas and Missouri Republicans have already moved forward, while California Democrats are countering with their own gerrymandered blueprint. But Indiana’s GOP leaders have dragged their feet for weeks, holding closed-door talks and keeping their plans under wraps.

The White House has been deeply involved, with Vice President JD Vance and President Trump both working the phones and the meetings. Vance met with Braun and Indiana lawmakers in August, and Trump later huddled privately in the Oval Office with House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray.

Vance returned to Indianapolis on October 10 to meet with Braun and top state Republicans again — but the effort may still be an uphill climb. A spokesperson for Bray said Wednesday the Indiana Senate doesn’t currently have the votes to pass a new map, casting doubt on whether Braun’s special session can deliver.

Braun had long resisted calling lawmakers back to the capital unless he knew the numbers were there. Indiana’s GOP has kept a lower national profile in recent years, especially after a 2022 special session that produced one of the nation’s strictest abortion bans. But the pressure from Trumpworld — and from conservative activists who see a chance to sweep all nine congressional seats — has been mounting.

Republicans already dominate Indiana’s delegation 7–2, but party strategists have their eyes on the 1st Congressional District, a deep-blue stretch near Chicago long held by Democrats. The seat, currently occupied by Rep. Frank Mrvan, has been a top GOP target in recent cycles.

Not all Republicans are on board. Some lawmakers warn that reopening the maps mid-decade could backfire and cost the state millions in legal fees. Others insist the current districts are fair and durable.

“I believe these maps reflect feedback from the public and will serve Hoosiers well for the next decade,” Bray said when the current lines were adopted four years ago.

Still, in Trump country — where he won by 19 points in 2024 — patience for hesitation is running thin. And with Republicans holding a supermajority in both chambers, Democrats can’t block the session even if they tried.

Whether Braun’s gamble pays off could determine not just Indiana’s map — but the shape of Trump’s congressional majority heading into 2026.

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