Trump Intensifies Redistricting Push in Indiana, Florida

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INDIANAPOLIS, Indiana – President Donald Trump has escalated his push for mid-decade congressional redistricting, dispatching Vice President JD Vance to Indiana and backing new efforts in Florida. The moves form part of a wider strategy to strengthen Republican control of the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

In Indiana, Vance held private discussions at the State Capitol with Governor Mike Braun and Republican leaders. While Braun offered no commitment to launch a special legislative session, his meeting with Vance underscores growing national pressure to revisit district maps. Around 100 protesters gathered outside, expressing concerns about potential changes.

Texas has been the focal point of Trump’s redistricting campaign, where Republican lawmakers are seeking to add at least five GOP-leaning districts. Democrats currently trail Republicans by just three seats in the U.S. House, making any redistricting a potentially decisive factor in the next election cycle.

Indiana currently has a 7-2 Republican advantage in its U.S. House delegation, making further changes challenging. Lawmakers have sole authority to draw maps, meaning any shift would depend on a special session called by the governor.

In Florida, state House Speaker Daniel Perez announced plans to begin redistricting this autumn through a special committee. The state Senate has yet to commit, and Governor Ron DeSantis, a former rival turned Trump ally, has told voters to “stay tuned” for further developments.

Florida’s role is significant given its status as the nation’s third-most populous state and Trump’s adopted home.

Trump has also urged a new federal census that excludes non-citizens and those without legal residency status. While the U.S. Constitution requires House representation to be based on the “whole number of persons” in each state, Trump’s proposal would mark a significant departure from current practice.

During his first term, the Supreme Court blocked an attempt to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census. However, with the Census Bureau under the Commerce Department now led by Secretary Howard Lutnick, Trump’s administration could attempt further changes.

In Texas, Democratic lawmakers have fled the state to block a quorum on redistricting legislation. Governor Greg Abbott has authorised civil arrest warrants to compel their return. State Attorney General Ken Paxton is seeking court rulings to enforce these warrants across state lines.

Those absent face daily fines of $500, exceeding their legislative pay, and are relying on political contributions to cover living costs while away. Democrats hope to run out the clock on the current special session, though Abbott can call additional sessions.

Elsewhere, Democratic governors including California’s Gavin Newsom, Illinois’ JB Pritzker, and New York’s Kathy Hochul have suggested they could pursue their partisan maps if Republican-led states proceed with redistricting.

The battle over congressional boundaries is shaping up to be a central political contest before the 2026 midterms. Trump’s nationwide push signals his determination to expand Republican influence in Washington, while Democrats aim to resist changes they argue could diminish voter representation.

With legal challenges and state-level battles looming, the redistricting fight is likely to test the limits of political power between state governments and the federal system.