Indiana House GOP’s new congressional maps would likely knock out all Democrats

Republicans in the Indiana House have rolled out proposed changes to their congressional maps that could net them two new seats in the U.S. House of Representatives, putting them at the center of the nationwide redistricting battle.

The draft map posted on the Indiana House GOP caucus could leave Republicans in complete control of the state’s nine congressional seats, and comes after President Trump and his allies put intense pressure on the state legislature to act.

The proposal still faces hurdles in the state Senate, where Republican President Pro Tem Rodric Bray has said it lacks support. The map is expected to pass the House this week and be sent to the Indiana Senate.

Under the new plan, Reps. André Carson and Frank Mrvan, the sole Democrats in the Indiana congressional delegation, would likely lose their seats.

The map makes changes for every congressional district. 

It would dramatically slice up Mr. Carson’s 7th Congressional District, which now encompasses most of Indianapolis, and Mr. Mrvan’s 1st Congressional District, which includes Gary and the Indiana side of the Chicago metro area. 

Mr. Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on Mr. Bray and other Indiana Republicans who have refused to fall in line, insisting they should all face primary challenges.

He also questioned Gov. Mike Braun’s leadership. Mr. Braun and other Republicans have since received threats. Some have been victims of “swatting,” in which people make false emergency calls or emails about them to law enforcement.

Mr. Trump’s nationwide push to create more Republican-friendly congressional districts — thereby boosting the party’s chances of defending its slim House majority — has been a mixed bag.

There is a chance Democrats could end up on the winning side of the battle.

Texas Republicans kick-started the effort over the summer, adopting new maps that would net them up to five seats. But the map has faced legal challenges, and the Supreme Court is now expected to weigh in.

Republicans also have carved out new seats in North Carolina, Ohio and Missouri. Legal questions remain in those states.

Democrats, meanwhile, spearheaded a ballot measure in California that has set the table for them to offset the gains in Texas.

Virginia lawmakers are also considering changes to their maps that could net them as many as three more seats.

Back in Indiana, some Republican lawmakers celebrated the newly released map proposal.

“I’ll 100% be voting for this,” state Rep. Andrew Ireland said on X. “Blue states are redrawing their maps to crush Republicans. Why should we play by different rules and protect radicals like Andre Carson?”

“9-0 or bust,” he said, with an American flag emoji.

Indiana House Democrats panned the plan, saying voters will be worse off with the map, and urged them to contact their state representatives.