For much of President Donald Trump’s second term, Republicans have largely followed his directives. However, in Indiana and Kansas, efforts to redraw congressional districts to ensure GOP dominance ahead of the 2026 midterms are facing formidable obstacles.
Both states' Republican leaders report a lack of support among party members to enact Trump’s favored redistricting plans. This resistance makes Indiana and Kansas outliers among Republican-majority states that are otherwise eager to follow Trump's lead in adjusting electoral boundaries.
The Trump administration has been actively campaigning for redistricting, including holding an Oval Office meeting with Indiana lawmakers. Nevertheless, the prospects of passing favorable new maps are dimming, presenting a notable setback for Trump and his efforts to maintain a compliant GOP-controlled Congress after 2026.
States typically redraw congressional districts every ten years, based on census data. Amid concerns that midterm elections often bolster the party out of power, Trump is pressuring Republicans to adopt maps that tilt electoral chances back in the GOP's favor.
Challenges in Indiana
In Indiana, home to a congressional delegation comprised of seven Republicans and two Democrats, the push for redistricting has stalled as state Senate leaders admit they lack the votes. Despite a predominant Republican presence, more than a dozen senators are reportedly unwilling to support the redraw.
Reasons for this resistance vary; some lawmakers fear that poorly constructed maps could inadvertently make Republican districts more competitive. Others feel it’s fundamentally wrong to manipulate districting based solely on party self-interest.
“We are being asked to create a new culture in which it would be normal for a political party to select new voters any time it fears election consequences,” remarked Indiana State Senator Spencer Deery, reflecting a cautious approach among Indiana Republicans.
Critics, including former Governor Mitch Daniels, argue against redistricting efforts, advocating for procedural fairness that resonates with voters' values.
Kansas' Political Stalemate
Across the border in Kansas, Republican leaders struggle even further, attempting to circumvent the Democratic governor who opposes mid-cycle redistricting. Constitutionally, GOP lawmakers can force a special legislative session, but they are finding it difficult to secure the required bipartisan support.
The state's constitution requires a supermajority to call a special session and to override the governor’s anticipated veto. As a result, dissenting voices among conservative lawmakers may undermine the initiative.
Discussions around redistricting are contentious, with some legislators indicating that adjusting districts prematurely ignores shifts in population observed only through the decennial census.
As the standoff continues, Republicans in both Indiana and Kansas are grappling with the implications of their choices. With only a few seats needed for Democrats to flip control of the House, these setbacks in redistricting efforts could have reverberating effects on the Republican strategy moving forward.
Volmert contributed to this report, with insights from other state reporters.
