Indiana Gov. Mike Braun on Tuesday made his most overt political threat to recalcitrant Republican state senators over early congressional redistricting, saying he’d look for ways to “compel” them to act — and vowing to support primary challengers.

Braun’s rebuke came shortly after a deep divide among Senate Republicans was exposed with a typically routine vote on adjourning Tuesday’s procedural Organization Day session until January.

Votes in the Senate and House set Jan. 5 as the date lawmakers will return to the Statehouse and start the new legislative session — not on Dec. 1, as previously planned, to take up President Donald Trump’s wish for Republican-led states to draw more GOP-friendly U.S. House districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The Senate’s adjournment resolution was approved by a 29-19 margin. All 10 Democratic senators supported the resolution, while Republican senators split 19-19 on whether to back Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray’s decision last week against meeting in December, on the grounds of too little support for a congressional redistricting to pass the chamber.

The Senate’s action sidesteps Braun’s call for a special legislative session that was to have started Nov. 3, with Braun responding Tuesday that “it’s time now for our state senators to commit to showing up for work.”

“Unfortunately, Sen. Rod Bray was forced to partner with DEMOCRATS to block an effort by the growing number of America First Senators who wanted to have a vote on passing fair maps. Now I am left with no choice other than to explore all options at my disposal to compel the State Senate to show up and vote,” Braun said in a statement. “I will support President Trump’s efforts to recruit, endorse, and finance primary challengers for Indiana’s senators who refuse to support fair maps.”

Braun’s office did not answer questions from the Indiana Capital Chronicle about what steps the governor could take to “compel” Senate action.

In a statement to the Capital Chronicle, Bray downplayed the dispute.

“Senate Republicans may have a difference of opinion on a policy matter with the governor, and that happens from time to time, but we are committed to pursuing policies that will make life better for Hoosiers, and we will continue to look for ways to collaborate with the governor,” Bray said.

Bray: redistricting “not the right way”

Redistricting supporters wanted Indiana lawmakers to craft a map with all nine of the state’s congressional districts favoring Republicans. They’d be based on 2020 census data, like the current maps.

Those were drawn by Republicans in 2021, and maintained a 7-2 GOP majority — with Democrat Frank Mrvan holding the 1st District in northwest Indiana and Democrat André Carson holding the 7th District, which covers much of Indianapolis.

Bray told reporters Tuesday that redrawn maps wouldn’t guarantee “an automatic nine” Republican Hoosier members of Congress.

Bray said he wants to see Republicans maintain the U.S. House majority but that he and other GOP senators didn’t favor redrawing the 2021 maps.

“I’m not sure that a number of members of our caucus, at least I’m included in that number, don’t feel like it’s the right way to move forward, simply because it’s not the right way to get that goal achieved,” Bray said.

House Speaker Todd Huston said Tuesday that “House Republicans have the necessary votes to address this issue and we stand ready to get the job done.”

Huston adjourned the House until Jan. 5, but told members to remain prepared for a possible return during the first two weeks of December.

“My hope is that with our great colleagues in the Senate, we’ll embrace this, and then we all return in early December for a special session to pass new maps,” Huston told reporters. “… This has been a fluid situation for a while now, and it’ll continue to be fluid, I’m sure.”

Despite Indiana being among Trump’s targets for congressional redistricting since August, Huston maintained that Republicans haven’t settled on a new map plan.

“We haven’t gotten that far,” he said. “Had some conversations, we haven’t gotten that far.”

Trump rebukes senators again

Trump has used social media in recent days to rebuke Bray and other Republican senators who don’t support redistricting.

Trump did so again Tuesday with a post that said Braun “must produce” on redistricting.

“I won Indiana in a landslide, the most votes ever gotten in the State – Such an HONOR! A RINO State Senator, Rodric Bray, who doesn’t care about keeping the Majority in the House in D.C., is the primary problem,” Trump’s post said.

One senator seemingly switched his position on redistricting.

Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville, had been counted as a “no” for weeks but clarified on the Senate floor Tuesday that “when push comes to shove,” he would vote “yes” in support of Trump.

Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, came out in opposition on Tuesday.

“The message from my district has been clear — they do not support mid-cycle redistricting, and therefore I cannot support it,” Holdman said in a statement.

The current standing among the 40 Republican senators who have publicly stated a position on redistricting is 15 in favor and 10 against. Several other Senate Republicans declined to state their position, with some wanting to see a proposed map first.

Braun sees redistricting fight in ‘first inning’

Braun sat alongside Huston and Bray during an unrelated event a couple hours ahead of the afternoon floor sessions.

Neither of the legislative leaders nor the governor spoke to the few dozen people attending a pro-redistricting rally feet away, which drew redistricting advocates Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Secretary of State Diego Morales.

Braun suggested to reporters Tuesday morning that the House could advance a redistricting bill even without senators in the Statehouse.

“The House is already publicly out there for it, anxious for them to get a bill out there that they send to the Senate,” Braun said.

Tuesday’s Senate vote also divided Republican leaders there. Bray and Holdman — who holds the No. 3 leadership post as majority caucus chair — voted to adjourn until January, while Senate Majority Floor Leader Chris Garten, the second-ranking leader, voted against the resolution.

Braun maintained that momentum was building in favor of Indiana going along with Trump’s redistricting push.

“When that decision was made by Senator Bray, that’s because it was so close,” Braun said. “With all the pressure, all the stuff that’s going to come from here forward, this is just in the first inning, so we’re going to see what happens.”

The post Redistricting rift growing among Indiana Republicans appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

NORTH WEBSTER — On the same day that President Donald Trump began targeting certain Indiana state lawmakers for not supporting his call to redraw Indiana's  Congressional lines, former Gov. Mitch Daniels defended his opposition to it.

Daniels is one of the few high-ranking Republicans in Indiana politics to speak out against the mid-cycle redistricting plan sought by Trump, and did so previously in a published commentary.

The former governor, who later went on to serve as president of Purdue University, was in North Webster to honor Republicans at the annual Hall of Fame dinner and was asked about the state senate leader's decision not to call a special session to address redistricting.

[caption id="attachment_123088" align="alignright" width="420"] Former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels, left, is pictured at Monday’s Kosciusko County Republican Party Hall of Fame Dinner with two honorees, Patty Yarian (Woman of the Year) and Jon Garber (Man of the Year). Pictured at right is Austin Rovenstine, the county party’s secretary. Photo by David Slone. Check out Slone’s coverage of the event in a link at the bottom of this story.[/caption]

State Senators on Friday canceled plans for the December special session.

"I think they're doing the right thing," Daniels said during a pre-dinner social hour at the Owl's Nest. "It also happens to be the smart thing for them because the citizens of the state have spoken very loudly that they don't think it's appropriate."

Recent polls have shown redistricting doesn't have much public support, and many lawmakers have avoided taking a public stand.

Daniels was asked bout Trump’s threat to primary Republican candidates who don’t support redistricting.

"I would hope it wouldn't come to that. I would hope the president would respect the consciences of people who feel a commitment to fair play and fair competition and really don't want to rig the rules in the middle of the game," Daniels said.

Monday's political dinner came one day before state lawmakers have their organizational day before the general assembly meets in January.

While redistricting will likely be discussed in Indianapolis on Tuesday, there was no mention of it by any speakers on Monday night.

Meanwhile Indiana Capitol Chronicle reports many Republican lawmakers still don’t want to discuss redistricting.

State Sen. Blake Doriot, of Syracuse, who has been the target of an intense online lobbying, spoke out Monday afternoon, the report said.

While Doriot has been a strong supporter of other Trump issues, he said redrawing Congressional maps mid-cycle is not the best way to achieve policy goals.

Doriot said there is no way to guarantee Republicans would pick up two additional districts eyed by Republicans and held by Democrats for decades.

Instead, Doriot said Republicans should focus on flipping the 1st Congressional District, which has trended toward Republicans in recent elections, Indiana Capital Chronicle reported.

State Sen. Stacy Donato, who attended Monday's dinner and whose district includes part of Kosciusko County, told News Now Warsaw that she’d be happy to talk about any issues other than redistricting.

Donato also declined to say where she stood on the issue.

Daniels was Monday's keynote speaker and joined with Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita in paying tribute to political leader Jean Northenor and philanthropist Mary Louise Miller, both of whom passed away in recent weeks.

Check out the full story by the Times-Union's David Slone here.

[caption id="attachment_123093" align="aligncenter" width="720"] A large group of young people who are part of Turning Point USA attended Monday’s GOP dinner, and some talked briefly with former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels. News Now Warsaw photo by Dan Spalding.[/caption]

The post Daniels says President Trump should respect Hoosier opinions on redistricting appeared first on News Now Warsaw.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called out two Indiana “RINO Senators,” as well as Gov. Mike Braun, for the state’s failure to move forward with redrawing congressional boundaries.

Braun worked behind the scenes for months to garner legislative support and eventually called a special session for a new map. Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray on Friday announced the caucus still doesn’t have the necessary votes and that his chamber would not convene Dec. 1, as planned.

“Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their State, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats,” Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday morning.

“The Democrats have done redistricting for years, often illegally, and all other appropriate Republican States have done it,” he continued. “Because of these two politically correct type ‘gentlemen,’ and a few others, they could be depriving Republicans of a Majority in the House, A VERY BIG DEAL!”

Hours after Trump named Goode specifically, he reported he was the victim of swatting at his Vigo County home. That is when a prankster calls police and reports a bogus need for emergency services at an address.

“Vigo County sheriff’s deputies responded to the incident under the impression of a domestic violence emergency. The deputies professionally fulfilled their duty,” Goode said in a statement. “While this entire incident is unfortunate and reflective of the volatile nature of our current political environment, I give thanks to God that my family and I are ok.”

The president has been pushing GOP-led states to change their congressional maps to ensure a Republican U.S. House majority in 2026. Some Democratic-controlled states have responded in kind, moving to add more blue seats.

Trump said “no one” is calling out California, which passed a constitutional amendment in the recent election to pick up five seats, and blamed “weak ‘Republicans'” for causing problems — like “crazy Policies and Ideas that are so bad for America.”

Then, Trump turned his attention to Braun, who has been a vocal supporter of his.

“Also, a friend of mine, Governor Mike Braun, perhaps, is not working the way he should to get the necessary Votes. Considering that Mike wouldn’t be Governor without me (Not even close!), is disappointing!” Trump wrote.

He ended his lengthy post by saying any Republican voting against redistricting should face a primary opponent.

“Indiana is a State with strong, smart, and patriotic people. They want us to see our Country WIN, and want to, “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” Senators Bray, Goode, and the others to be released to the public later this afternoon, should DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW! If not, let’s get them out of office, ASAP.”

Thirteen Senate Republicans have announced their support with eight publicly against.

Neither Bray nor Goode — along with 17 other Senate Republicans — have said where they stand on the redistricting proposal.

Bray has repeatedly reported a lack of supportive votes among the 40-member caucus, while Goode recently held a town hall to hear from constituents on redistricting. Not one person spoke in support.

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The Indiana Capital Chronicle is an independent, nonprofit news organization dedicated to giving Hoosiers a comprehensive look inside state government, policy and elections. The site combines daily coverage with in-depth scrutiny, political awareness and insightful commentary.

You can read the original version of the story here.

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