Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray announced today that Senate Republicans do not have the votes to advance a proposal to redraw the state’s congressional districts before the 2026 election cycle. As a result, the Senate will not return for a December session, effectively ending discussions about mid-cycle redistricting.
In a written statement, Bray said GOP lawmakers had spent the past several months weighing whether to revisit the 2021 congressional maps but ultimately determined there was insufficient support to move forward.
“Over the last several months, Senate Republicans have given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state’s congressional maps,” Bray said. “Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward, and the Senate will not reconvene in December.”
Talk of a mid-cycle redraw emerged in late summer and gained momentum throughout the fall, fueled in part by national political dynamics and internal party discussions about potential changes to one or more congressional districts. The idea prompted widespread speculation about whether Indiana lawmakers would return for a rare off-year redistricting session.
Under Indiana law, the General Assembly has the authority to revisit district boundaries, though mid-cycle revisions are uncommon and often politically sensitive. Any decision to redraw maps outside the traditional post-census process would have required majority support in both chambers.
According to lawmakers familiar with the internal discussions, Senate Republicans spent recent weeks assessing potential political and legal implications of reopening the maps, including the likelihood of court challenges and the impact on incumbents facing reelection in 2026. While some members supported reconsidering the districts, others expressed concerns about timing, public reaction, and precedent.
Bray’s announcement formally ends the prospect of a December session, which was never officially scheduled but had been widely anticipated if consensus emerged. Without Senate action, the House of Representatives was unlikely to proceed, as major redistricting initiatives generally begin with or depend on movement from the upper chamber.
The decision means Indiana will continue operating under the congressional boundaries enacted in 2021, following the release of the 2020 U.S. Census. Those maps, drawn by the Republican supermajority, have resulted in seven GOP-held districts and two Democratic seats.
In addition to closing the door on a December reconvening, Bray’s statement also provided clarity on the General Assembly’s upcoming schedule. The Senate’s 2026 legislative calendar is expected to be made public on or around Organization Day. Following that, the chamber plans to return to session on January 5.
Bray, a Republican from Martinsville, represents Senate District 37, which includes Morgan County and portions of Johnson, Owen, and Putnam counties. He has served as Senate President Pro Tem since 2018.
The announcement provides finality for lawmakers, political campaigns, and advocacy groups who had been closely monitoring the possibility of new district lines. With the issue resolved, candidates preparing for 2026 can move forward under the existing map, and the General Assembly’s focus now shifts to the upcoming session and legislative priorities for the new year.
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