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In a unexpected move, Indiana GOP legislators defeated a measure to redistrict the state's congressional map on Thursday afternoon. This vote constitutes a pointed rebuke of Donald Trump and broader national efforts to alter electoral districts to benefit Republican office-seekers.

The Vote

The bill did not pass by a vote of 19 to 31. A notable group of twenty-one GOP senators sided with 10 Democrats to block the proposed district maps.

Currently, Republicans hold seven of Indiana's 9 congressional seats. The proposed redistricting scheme was crafted to favor GOP-leaning districts in all nine congressional seats. This would have been done through multiple key changes:

• Carving up the liberal base of Indianapolis into four separate congressional areas.
• Adding slices of Indianapolis electorate to nearby solidly Republican regions.
• Splitting the north-western congressional district, presently represented by Democrat Frank Mrvan, into 2 new areas.

Key Holdout

State Sen. Greg Goode, a pivotal GOP defector, opposed the redistricting bill. In a extended address to the chamber, he declared that his vote represented the desires of his constituents.

"I am a Christian man first and foremost, then an American citizen, then a conservative, then a member of the GOP – in that order," he stated. "I'm convinced that my vote represents the desire of my constituents."

National Context

This campaign in Indiana occurred amid a national push by Donald Trump to influence the redrawing of district lines to secure more GOP seats before next year’s midterm elections. Republicans presently maintain a very slim majority in the House and are broadly expected to lose ground in the upcoming election.

Elsewhere, Republicans in Texas, the Tar Heel State, and the Show-Me State have each enacted districts to benefit their party. Meanwhile, Democrats have responded by adjusting districts in states like the Golden State to potentially add several Democratic seats. The Democratic party in the Commonwealth of Virginia are also poised to redraw their maps for Democratic advantage.

Trump's Campaign

Donald Trump waged a bare-knuckled push to pressure Indiana GOP lawmakers to pass the map. Vice President J.D. Vance allegedly traveled to the Indiana Statehouse multiple times to lobby state senators.

In a post on his social media platform, Trump voiced his displeasure on Wednesday. "Every other State has done redistricting, willingly, openly, and without issue. There was never a question in their mind that helping to secure a WIN in the midterms for the Republican Party was a great move to do for our Party, and for America itself," he wrote. "Unfortunately, Indiana's Senate Leader Senator Rod Bray seems to enjoy being the sole individual in the United States who is opposed to Republicans gaining extra seats, in Indiana’s case, two of them."

Pressure Tactics

In the lead-up to the critical vote, Indiana state Republicans allegedly received death threats and swatting attempts. Furthermore, VP JD Vance and Donald Trump Jr. openly attacked Senator Rod Bray ahead of the Thursday vote.

The advocacy group Heritage Action, the advocacy arm of the conservative think tank, also issued a statement, warning on Thursday that the state would lose congressional funds if it did not pass the map. Their message warned that critical infrastructure initiatives and operations would be halted.