President Donald Trump has taken direct aim at a high-ranking Indiana state senator who voted against the congressional redistricting plan by endorsing a potential Republican primary challenger.

A social media post from Trump Thursday night blasted Sen. Travis Holdman as a RINO — Republican in name only — “who, for whatever reason, voted against Redistricting in Indiana, in a District that I won by 39 points, which puts the United States Congress in jeopardy.”

Trump’s post said he would give “my Complete and Total Endorsement” to Blake Fiechter, a Bluffton City Council member whom the post called “a True America First Patriot.”

Holdman, who has been in the Senate since 2008, is the chamber’s third-ranking member as majority caucus chair and also is chair of the influential Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.

Holdman is seeking reelection in Senate District 19 that includes all or parts of Adams, Allen, Blackford, Jay and Wells counties in northeastern Indiana.

Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Gov. Mike Braun and other redistricting supporters have repeatedly threatened political vengeance against Republican legislators who opposed Trump’s demand for a redrawing of Indiana’s U.S. House maps aimed at helping the GOP win all nine seats.

“We could have easily picked up two seats in Indiana, so Holdman, an America Last politician, put our Majority in the House of Representatives at risk, thereby putting our Country in a very dangerous position in losing some of the magnificent gains that we have made over the last year,” Trump’s post said.

Holdman did not immediately reply Friday to messages from the Indiana Capital Chronicle seeking comment.

Holdman made himself a Trump target in November by announcing: “The message from my district has been clear — they do not support mid-cycle redistricting, and therefore I cannot support it.”

He was among 21 Republicans who joined all 10 Democratic senators in opposing the redistricting plan when it failed in a 31-19 vote on Dec. 11.

Trump’s endorsement of Fiechter is the first the president has made since he started making his political threats months ago.

Fiechter is a real estate broker who is in his first term as an at-large member of Bluffton’s city council after winning election in 2023.

Fiechter did not immediately respond to email messages seeking comment about his political plans.

He had not filed a candidacy for the Senate seat or opened a state campaign fundraising committee by midday Friday, according to Indiana Election Division online records. The candidate filing deadline for the May primary is Feb. 6.

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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.

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WARSAW — Former Kosciusko County Commissioner Brad Jackson — eager to get back into political governance — has found a quicker way to join county council.

Jackson, who served 28 years as a commissioner before deciding to retire in 2024, had announced in September his plans to run for county council's 1st District seat next year, which would mean he'd be seated more than a year from now (if elected). 

But then he received a call Thursday night from a county council member who alerted him that they had just learned another council member, Delynn Geiger, had unexpectedly announced his resignation, effective one day later.

Jackson, 63, thought about the unexpected development, talked with a few people, including the county Republican Party Chairman Mike Ragan, and within hours, announced plans to seek Geiger’s at-large seat through a Republican caucus that has not even yet been announced.

Ragan announced Friday night that the caucus will be held Jan. 6.

The move, if successful, would mean Jacksson could be seated in early January — a year sooner than previously planned.

He said the change "makes perfect sense" and points out the council could face some tough budget decisions that could loom next year as changes in state law likely affect the amount of property tax revenue that can be collected.

"There's a lot of changes with Senate Bill 1 and things like that, and I'd just like to be part of that," Jackson said Friday afternoon.

Jackson was asked if quickly announcing might deter others from considering a run in the caucus process, which will be decided by precinct committee members from across the county.

"I don't know if it would or not, but I think it's good to get your name out as quickly as you decide," Jackson said. "To me, it seems like a pretty easy decision. I already decided to run, so do I want to run and be in a year sooner or not?"

Geiger was elected a year ago and said in a letter to Ragan that the decision was based on his family's increasing activities outside of the county.

Three years remain in Geiger's term, which could be an enticing reason for others to consider running.

Jackson said he was unsure if the immediate opening on the council would attract much interest.

"I hope not, but I don't know," he said.

The caucus process would also be less expensive than running a campaign and would be decided by Republican party faithful, many of whom he has built relationships with over more than two decades.

Jackson's original election bid involved a potential match-up against Kimberly Cates, a fellow Republican who has not announced whether she plans to seek re-election.

Jackson said he reached out to Cates after Thursday's decision and that they had a "pleasant conversation."

The post Jackson changes gears, will run for county council seat vacated by Geiger appeared first on News Now Warsaw.