Indiana Senate Rejects Redistricting Bill

A majority of Republican State Senators voted against the measure.

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INDIANAPOLIS - Despite pressure from President Donald Trump, the Republican-controlled Indiana Senate voted down a bill that would have wiped out Indiana's two Democratic-held seats in the House. 

Last week, the Indiana House of Representatives passed House Bill 1032 by a vote of 57-41 to move forward with redistricting efforts that have been ongoing for months. 

On Thursday, the measure was struck down by a 31-19 vote. A majority of Republican State Senators (21 of 40) were against redistricting, including State Senator Jean Leising (R-Oldenburg). State Senator Randy Maxwell (R-Guilford) was in favor of the bill. 

Governor Mike Bruan released the following statement: 

I am very disappointed that a small group of misguided State Senators have partnered with Democrats to reject this opportunity to protect Hoosiers with fair maps and to reject the leadership of President Trump. Ultimately, decisions like this carry political consequences. I will be working with the President to challenge these people who do not represent the best interests of Hoosiers. 

The mid-cycle redistricting effort aimed to create two more GOP-leaning districts. Republicans currently hold a 7-2 advantage in the U.S. House delegation. 

Indiana Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder (D-Bloomington) released the following statement on behalf of the Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus, after House Bill (HB)1032, the mid-cycle redistricting bill, failed to advance

“Today belongs to the people of Indiana. Hoosiers from every corner of our state made their voices heard in every way possible. They showed up in person, they called, they emailed, they stopped us in grocery aisles and at school events to say the same thing: protect their voice and keep our democracy in their hands. This was never about one party winning or losing. It was about whether Indiana would honor a simple promise: voters choose their leaders, not the other way around. HB 1032 would have pulled decision-making even further from the people who live with the consequences. Hoosiers rejected that. Loudly. Consistently. In every way they knew how."

 

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