Indiana redistricting bill fails in state Senate despite pressure from Trump, threats to state senators

Indiana Senate Republicans failed to pass a redistricting bill that would have edged out the state’s two House Democrats, despite months of pressure from the Trump administration and after state senators faced bomb and swatting threats.

The final vote was 19 senators in favor and 39 against. Republicans have 40 seats in the state Senate to Democrats’ 10. 

Thursday’s failure marks the first time national Republicans’ redistricting plans have been thwarted since the push to redraw congressional maps was kicked off by President Trump over the summer. 

Mr. Trump has vowed to back primary challenges against Republicans who voted against the Indiana measure, and took aim on Wednesday at Senate president pro tempore Rodric Bray. 

“Anybody that votes against Redistricting, and the SUCCESS of the Republican Party in D.C., will be, I am sure, met with a MAGA Primary in the Spring,” Mr. Trump posted on social media ahead of the vote. “Rod Bray and his friends won’t be in Politics for long, and I will do everything within my power to make sure that they will not hurt the Republican Party, and our Country, again.”

As the state Senate debated the vote, Vice President JD Vance posted on social media that Bray “consistently told us he wouldn’t fight redistricting while simultaneously whipping his members against it. That level of dishonesty cannot be rewarded, and the Indiana GOP needs to choose a side.”