Indiana lawmakers moved closer this week to approve a rare mid-decade redistricting plan, with the Indiana House and a key Senate committee advancing new congressional maps that could reshape political representation for years to come.
The Indiana House passed the proposed map 57–41 on December 5, sending it to the Senate. Three days later, the Senate Elections Committee advanced the measure 6–3, setting up a full Senate vote later this week, with one Republican and two Democrats lawmakers opposing it. Despite the Republican supermajority, some GOP senators have not committed to supporting the proposal.
Locally Indiana Senator Jean Leising has voiced her opposition to redistricting. “I have heard from hundreds of constituents on this matter in the past two months, and they are overwhelmingly opposed to mid-cycle congressional redistricting – with only 6% supporting new districts,” Leising said in a written statement that was provided to us a few weeks ago.
Redistricting normally occurs once every ten years after new U.S. Census data is released. Indiana last approved maps in 2021, expecting them to stand until after the 2030 Census. But political pressure in late 2025—driven in part by former President Donald Trump—prompted GOP leaders to call for a mid-cycle redraw. A special session initially planned for early December stalled amid Senate disagreements, but lawmakers reconvened and restarted the process ahead of the 2026 elections.
Redistricting adjusts district boundaries to ensure equal population representation. Changes can influence which voters are grouped together, determine partisan advantages, and affect how communities—particularly urban and minority populations—are represented. Critics warn that mid-decade changes heighten risks of partisan gerrymandering, while supporters say the new maps reflect current demographics and political realities.
You can always view a livestream of what is occurring at the statehouse by clicking this link: IGA | Livestreams
Chris Ramey – WTRE News
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