With the Indiana Senate poised to vote Thursday on whether to redraw the state’s congressional districts, at least one Republican lawmaker says his mind is made up — and nothing in the last-minute lobbying blitz has moved him.
State Senator Mike Crider (R-Greenfield) told Indy Politics he remains firmly opposed to the proposal and that the aggressive tactics used by some supporters of the redistricting push have only strengthened his resolve.
“I’m a no, and there’s no way — absolutely no way — I’ll change my mind,” Crider said. “I’ve told people where I stand. My legislative assistant has told people I’m voting no. The one thing you can count on with me is I don’t lie, and I won’t put myself in that position. There’s no way you can explain to people that something suddenly changed your mind in the last couple days. You’ll see my vote — it’ll be red tomorrow.”
Crider also addressed ongoing questions about attendance and vote counts. Senators Buck and others have been absent from the Statehouse in recent days, raising speculation about whether their presence — or lack thereof — could change the outcome of a close vote.
“Senator Buck has not been here the last several days,” Crider said. “Do I expect them to be here tomorrow? I don’t know. And I don’t know how that changes the vote.”
While some lawmakers have privately described receiving threats or pressure related to the map debate, Crider says he hasn’t experienced any personally. But he did take aim at Indiana’s federal delegation, suggesting they have the leverage to block congressional action in Washington if national groups continue pushing Indiana to redraw its districts.
“In my opinion, the spread on votes is so thin in Congress that if our federal delegation won’t stand together and say, ‘Leave Indiana alone,’ then they’re not doing their jobs,” he said. “They have the ability to say, ‘If you’re going to hurt Indiana, then we’re not passing anything out of the House of Representatives until you stop.’ That’s what I think should happen.”
Crider’s public declaration locks in at least one solid Republican “no” vote heading into Thursday, adding further uncertainty to a process already marked by tight margins, absences, and political pressure from both inside and outside the Statehouse.
The Senate is expected to take up the map proposal on the floor Thursday afternoon.
