The Indiana Senate has rejected a voting map designed to favor Republicans in the 2026 midterm elections, defying a months-long pressure campaign from the White House.
Enough Republican legislators in the state have joined all Democrats to oppose changes that would otherwise occur every 10 years to reflect population changes.
US President Donald Trump's call for Republican leaders to redraw the maps favorably in the party's favor has sparked a nationwide battle over redistricting.
Several states have moved to redistricting, including Republican-led Texas and Democratic-led California, the country's two largest states.
Other states Countries that have initiated or enacted redistricting measures include Utah, Ohio, New Hampshire, Missouri and Illinois.
In Indiana, a new map passed by the House last week would have redrawn the state's congressional districts and given Republicans an advantage of two additional seats, but it was rejected on Thursday by a 19-31 vote.
“My opposition to mid-cycle gerrymandering is not inconsistent with my conservative principles; my opposition is driven by them,” Republican Sen. Spencer Deery said before the vote.
“As long as I have breath, I will use my voice to stand up to the federal government that tries to bully, direct and control this state or any other state. Giving the federal government more power is not a conservative approach.”
Indiana Gov. Mike Brown, a Republican, said he was “very disappointed” with the results of the vote.
“I will work with the president to challenge these people who do not represent the interests of Hoosiers,” he said on X.
The challenge by Indiana Republicans stems from direct pressure from Trump.
On Wednesday, Trump warned on his social media site, Truth Social, that Republicans who don't support the initiative could risk losing their seats.
He directly addressed state Senate Republican leader Rodrick Bray, who has resisted the effort, calling him “the only person in the United States of America who is against Republicans gaining more seats.”
In the weeks leading up to the vote, Trump hosted Indiana lawmakers at the White House to win over dissenters.
He also sent Vice President J.D. Vance to Indiana twice to drum up support.
About a dozen Indiana Republican lawmakers said they received death threats and attacks over their planned vote.
Ultimately, the redistricting effort failed, marking another setback for the Trump administration. This includes a number of recent Democratic victories in off-year elections.
Thursday's defeat appeared to heighten Republican concerns.
“We have a huge problem,” former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon said on his podcast The War Room.
“People need to realize we only have a couple of options,” he said.
“Unless we score 10 points in the redistricting wars, holding the House will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.”
Texas was the first state to respond to Trump's redistricting request.
After a lower court blocked the maps for illegally drawing on race, The Supreme Court allowed Texas Republicans are moving forward.
The decision was a major victory for Republicans, with the new maps expected to add five seats to them. California map Democrats are also expected to add five seats.
