Indiana Lawmakers Look to Redistricting12/01 06:12

   

   (AP) -- Indiana House members are expected to push forward Monday with 
redrawing the state's congressional districts in Republicans' favor, increasing 
pressure on their defiant counterparts in the GOP-led Senate to meet President 
Donald Trump's demands.

   Republicans who control the House chamber have said there's no doubt that 
redistricting will pass that chamber. But the fate of any proposal to emerge 
remains uncertain in the Senate. Republicans also control that chamber but 
members of the caucus have resisted pressure to redistrict for months.

   Senate leadership recently backed off from previous intent not to meet at 
all, agreeing to convene next Monday. But it's still unclear if enough senators 
will back a new map.

   No official map or legislation had been made public by late Friday.

   Republicans hold seven of Indiana's existing nine U.S. House seats. Trump 
and other Republicans want to make the map 9-0 in the GOP's favor, aiming to 
give the party two extra seats in the 2026 elections that will determine 
control the U.S. House. Democrats only need to flip a handful of seats to 
overcome the Republicans' current margin.

   Indiana lawmakers have been under mounting pressure from the White House to 
redistrict like Republicans in Texas, Ohio and North Carolina have. To offset 
the GOP gains, Democrats in California and Virginia have moved to do the same.

   But some Indiana Republicans have been far more resistant. Republicans in 
the state Senate rebelled against Republican Gov. Mike Braun in November and 
said they would not attend a special session he ordered on redistricting.

   The chamber's top Republican, President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, at the time 
said the Senate did not have the votes. A spokesperson for Bray's office did 
not respond Friday when asked if that is still the case.

   Meanwhile, Trump attacked Indiana senators on social media, particularly 
Bray. He swore to endorse primary opponents of defecting senators. A spree of 
threats and swatting attempts were made against lawmakers who either said they 
do not support redistricting or have not taken a stance. At least one lawmaker 
in favor of redistricting and Braun were also threatened.

   Last week, the House announced plans to convene in Indianapolis on Monday.

   "All legislative business will be considered beginning next week, including 
redrawing the state's congressional map," House Speaker Todd Huston said in a 
statement Tuesday.

   The Indiana Senate, where a number of lawmakers objected to leadership's 
refusal to hold a vote, then said members would reconvene Dec. 8.

   "The issue of redrawing Indiana's congressional maps mid-cycle has received 
a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state," Bray said in a 
statement Tuesday. He said the Senate will finally decide the matter this month.