As a long-time legislator and chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), I know first-hand the issues plaguing Hoosiers. Every day, Indiana residents are struggling with rising costs of living, higher utility bills and sky-high health care costs. Local governments are set to lose huge chunks of revenue due to Senate Enrolled Act 1, which could lead to an increase in local taxes. Many Hoosiers are forced to leave work due to unaffordable or inaccessible child care.
However, when Gov. Mike Braun called for a special session of the Indiana General Assembly earlier this week, he didn’t call it to focus on any of these problems. Instead, he bowed to Washington, D.C. in an attempt to help the national Republican Party rig the 2026 midterm elections.
The last time we redrew our congressional maps in 2021 – when we were constitutionally required to following the census – Indiana Republicans touted the maps as “fair” and “beautiful.” With seven of Indiana’s nine congressional seats safely held by their fellow Republicans, they saw no issue with the maps they created.
And, it seems, Hoosiers largely agreed. Before Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana the first time earlier this summer, no one in our caucus received any calls or emails in favor of creating new maps. Again, Hoosiers have bigger fish to fry – from needing rental assistance to help handling medical debt and everything in between. The fact is, Republicans throughout the country know their policies are not popular with the American people and causing financial stress. If their policies were really helping improve the quality of life for Americans across the board, they wouldn’t have to play these political games to ensure they maintain their power. Unfortunately, Indiana Republicans seem far too willing to play ball to help the folks in Washington.
Let’s be clear, mid-decade redistricting is not about helping Hoosiers, it’s about disenfranchising them. Roughly 40% of Hoosiers align with the Democratic Party, and they deserve fair representation in Congress and in the Statehouse. I’m not just saying this as a Democrat; I’m saying this as a lawmaker and Hoosier who values fairness and equity. Without balanced representation, a large swath of Hoosiers will not have their voices heard, and that is unacceptable.
Mid-decade redistricting will also do a major disservice to civic engagement in Indiana. In the 2024 general election, only 61% of registered voters cast a ballot in Indiana, with 97,000 fewer Hoosiers participating in our democracy than in 2020. If Indiana Republicans go through with this redistricting scheme against the wishes of their constituents, why would Hoosiers be compelled to vote in future elections? Both Reps. Frank Mrvan and Andre Carson – who are being targeted by this effort – have won reelection in their districts multiple times. It’s clear to me that their communities are happy with the work they’re doing. If that should change, it’s the community who should be able to vote them out, not the Indiana General Assembly deciding for them. I’d like to remind my Republican colleagues: Real leaders aren’t afraid of their constituents.
It’s important to note that just because Gov. Braun called a special session does not mean the General Assembly is forced to convene to redistrict. Our Republican colleagues still have an opportunity to stand up for Hoosiers and their real-world economic concerns and tell the folks in Washington, D.C. that they don’t work for them. For anyone concerned about redistricting, the cost of living and the state of our democracy, we in the IBLC urge you to call your elected officials to share your thoughts.
If we do convene to draw new congressional maps and not deal with the real issues Hoosiers are facing, we in the IBLC plan to work with our respective caucus members to fight for Hoosiers and for fair maps, because democracy doesn’t get redrawn.
