The Indiana US Senate already strongly favors Republicans seven to two. The Indiana Senate voted three times to test for willingness to redistrict the state to favor the GOP even more, and those votes failed.
All but one State Senate district in mid-south Indiana is republican. Not all lawmakers released statements on their preference. Sen. Jim Tomes (R-dist. 49) released a statement that said in part, “… if the issue ever came down to a vote, that vote would then be whether to support our Commander in Chief Donald Trump, or the other party. I would have voted 'yes' for our president."
Sen. Vaneta Becker (R-dist. 50) came out publicly against redistricting Indiana and urged others to do so if it’s what they believed.
“I have received over 800 emails, postcards, calls, messages in opposition — and maybe 100 in support,” she said. “So overwhelmingly, the people of Indiana do not support redistricting in the middle of a 10-year term.”
She mentioned the news that the new Texas maps which started the multi-state race to redistrict, and could net the GOP five seats, is now tied up in the courts due to an NAACP lawsuit.
“It'll stay in the court system,” she said. “I think the majority of states that have done this, they're going to end up in court.”
She said she’s never in “all her years” seen such pressure exerted upon a state congress from the White House.
President Trump is threatening to “primary” state GOP senators that didn’t support redistricting, and Gov. Braun is urging them to reconvene and vote again, and vote in favor of redistricting.
Lt Gov.Micah Beckwith previously urged senators to “grow a spine” and vote in favor of redistricting.
“I think that Indiana people are logical and they don't want to be bullied,” Becker said. “And I think this looks like and feels like bullying, and I don't think Hoosiers respond well to bullying. I'm going to continue to represent people in district 50 and Vanderburgh and Warrick County, and those are the people that I care about hearing from.”
She said she’s not worried about threats of being primaried. “I don't run for three years, so I'm not really too concerned about it,” she said.
Being "primaried" is the practice of forcing an incumbent to defend themselves from a challenger in the primary election ahead of the general election.
While the top-down pressure to convene and vote on redistricting Indiana continues, she doesn’t think it’s possible due to scheduling.
“And now our governor is having a meltdown, and that's unfortunate,” she said, adding that she knows he’s being pressured by Trump. “He said he's going to try to ‘compel’ us to come back. Well, he can't 'compel' us to do anything. We’re a separate branch.”
She wishes President Trump well, but said this isn’t the right way to do this. “Those that didn't vote for this, are representing their constituents,” she said. “So if you want to go to war over something that people didn't want, good luck.”
Not all senators released statements on redistricting, but several did.
Sen. Eric Bassler (R- dist. 39) also did not support redistricting. “I cannot support any mid-census redistricting plan,” said Bassler. "Four years ago, my Republican colleagues and I voted for our current state and federal legislative maps. I stand by that vote and I will not support legislation to change our congressional maps.”
Through media contacts, WNIN also reached out to Sen. Jim Tomes (R-Dist 49) and Sen. Daryl Schmitt (R-dist 48). Though no new comments were provided, below are their statements in support.
Sen. Tomes’ Nov. 18, 2025 statement on redistricting in full —
"On the question of redistricting, I've already given my opinion about the proposal. However, I want to be clear that I had always stated to the governor and to our caucus that if the issue ever came down to a vote, that vote would then be whether to support our Commander in Chief Donald Trump, or the other party. I would have voted 'yes' for our president."
Sen. Daryl Schmitt, Oct. 24, 2025 statement —
"Throughout this process, I have been working to gather as much information as I can to make an informed decision regarding redistricting Indiana’s congressional map.
"After seeing how Democrat-controlled states have gerrymandered their congressional maps, and after a recent audit showing many of these states' populations were overcounted in the 2020 census, I believe the governor must call the General Assembly into a special session so we can redraw Indiana's congressional maps."
Support independent journalism today. You rely on WNIN to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Give to grow our local reporting today. Donate