by Leslie Bonilla Muñiz, Indiana Capital Chronicle
December 4, 2025
Indiana House Republicans on Thursday almost unanimously rejected a slate of Democratic revisions to the contentious mid-decade redistricting bill.
House Bill 1032 would disassemble the state’s two Democratic-held congressional districts to create an 9-0 Republican map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections — as sought by President Donald Trump.
House Democrats labeled the legislation an “extraordinary unfunded mandate,” noting it doesn’t grant state or county election administrators any financial help to make the changes by this spring.
They offered a pair of amendments to reimburse county clerks for costs, like updating election processes and materials. Republicans defeated both on procedural grounds.
“The majority is gonna come up and say the reason this isn’t germane is because it has an appropriation in it,” said Rep. Blake Johnson, D-Indianapolis. “But this … is not in our rule book. It is based solely on precedent. But I think we can all agree … this is an unprecedented moment.”
Johnson said the funding is relevant because, without it, “counties cannot perform the duties” required.
Rep. Alex Zimmerman, R-North Vernon, argued the bill “has nothing to do with an appropriation” and is focused on redistricting.
In the current congressional maps, drawn in 2021, Republicans maintained a 7-2 GOP advantage. Democratic Rep. Frank Mrvan holds the 1st District in northwest Indiana, while Democratic Rep. André Carson holds the 7th District in Indianapolis.
The House Republican proposal would break up the Lake Michigan shoreline area into two districts and splinter Indianapolis across four wide-reaching districts. Of the districts receiving slices of the capital — Indiana’s most populous city — one would extend west to Illinois and two would reach the Ohio River.
The expansive changes are intended to maximize the GOP’s political advantage, said bill author Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn.
Democrats unsuccessfully offered several other amendments designed to track spending.
One would’ve required the Secretary of State’s Office — which houses the Indiana Election Division — to tally the total amount of money and staff hours spent to implement the redistricting and list projects “delayed or abandoned … as a result of redirecting resources” to those efforts. The report would’ve been made to the State Budget Committee.
Another would have urged lawmakers to study the costs following the 2026 legislative session.
Minor and major changes suggested
Democrats also proposed tweaks to the process — alongside wholesale transformations.
All failed, largely along party lines.
One amendment would’ve required public hearings in each congressional district. Several Democrats noted just 43 Hoosiers made it to the single Indianapolis meeting, held with less than a day’s notice on a snowy Tuesday.
Smaltz said the bill gets one public hearing in the House and Senate, like “any other bill.”
“Respectfully, Rep. Smaltz, this is not the same,” said Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond. She noted that during 2021 redistricting, hearings were held across the state.
“They had ample enough time; it was warm outside,” Jackson said. “They were able to come, bring their neighbors, to engage in constructive conversation. There was no threat of flipping off the highway and ending up in a fatality.”
Another amendment would’ve mandated that the people or groups involved in drawing the maps be identified.
Smaltz said the House and Senate GOP worked with the National Republican Redistricting Trust. He didn’t want to set a precedent by adopting the amendment, arguing that people who work on other bills don’t have to identify themselves.
“Who are these people?” pressed Rep. Ed DeLaney, D-Indianapolis. “… Tell us who’s doing this to us!”
Democrats also suggested putting redistricting on a statewide ballot, reviving a longstanding effort to put more decisions directly before voters.
“They want a voice. They want a vote, and frankly, they deserve one,” said Rep. Mitch Gore, D-Indianapolis. “If you’re confident in this map, if you believe this is good for Indiana, then you should have no objection to letting the people confirm.”
Smaltz said Indiana is not a public question state, except in narrow categories provided for in the state’s constitution.
“You are the voice,” he told lawmakers. “You are the vote.”
A proposed amendment to ban mid-census redistricting — which also deleted the bill’s redistricting language — received support from two Republicans: Reps. Ed Clere of New Albany and Danny Lopez of Carmel. The proposal included a plea for Congress to prohibit partisan gerrymandering. Clere joined Democrats to support several other amendments as well.
Bill winds its way through Legislature
Indiana lawmakers returned to the Statehouse this month under heavy public pressure from Trump and Gov. Mike Braun, who have attacked GOP holdouts and threatened to help primary them.
House Republicans released the proposed maps Monday morning. On Tuesday, the election committee held its single public hearing and advanced the legislation — with one Republican “no” vote — to the House floor for amendments Thursday.
The House is expected to approve the maps Friday, and move to the Senate next week.
It’s unclear how the legislation will fare in the Senate, which initially declined to meet for redistricting before reversing. Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray has repeatedly said his caucus doesn’t have enough supportive votes.
