By Abdul-Hakim Shabazz | Indy Politics | November 2025

I had lunch in downtown Carroll County on Thursday. I was there for court. While sitting at the counter, a very nice couple recognized me from television. I thanked them — always nice when it’s not a subpoena — and asked what they thought about this whole redistricting business.

They didn’t hesitate. “It’s stupid,” the husband said flatly. His wife chimed in, “Don’t those guys in Indianapolis have better things to do?” Then came the list — taxes, schools, prices, roads — all the things that actually matter to people who live outside the Statehouse bubble.

And apparently, they’re not alone.

According to a new Bellwether Research poll, a majority of Hoosiers think Governor Mike Braun’s plan to call a special session for redistricting is a bad idea. Fifty-one percent oppose having the General Assembly redraw Indiana’s congressional maps this year, while just 39 percent support it. Even among Republicans, support barely clears fifty percent — hardly a sign of enthusiasm for the governor’s pet project.

Wrong Map, Wrong Time

Braun’s approval rating isn’t exactly something to frame on the wall. Only 36 percent approve of his performance as governor, while 50 percent disapprove. And more broadly, 51 percent of Hoosiers say the state is headed in the wrong direction.

Yet instead of tackling the big-ticket problems — property taxes, energy costs, public safety — Braun wants lawmakers to come back to Indianapolis to redraw lines that were already approved after the 2020 Census. Most Hoosiers see that for what it is: a distraction dressed up as leadership.

In fact, 72 percent said legislators should focus on lowering costs and improving safety, not redistricting. That’s not partisan rhetoric — that’s common sense.

The GOP’s Internal GPS Is Off

Even Republican voters are pushing back. One Trump supporter from Noble County called the plan “a disgusting power grab.” Another from Lake County said, “Follow the rules. It’s been after the Census, so leave it. That’s cheating.”

When your own party starts quoting the Constitution back to you, it might be time to put the map down and step away slowly.

In northwest Indiana, where the First Congressional District would be the biggest target, opposition is overwhelming: 59–32 in Lake County, 52–24 in Porter County. Nearly half the voters there say they’d be less likely to support any legislator who votes for new maps.

This Isn’t an Outlier — It’s a Trend

The Bellwether findings line up with other recent polling showing voters across the Midwest — including Ohio, Michigan, and Kentucky — overwhelmingly prefer policymakers focus on affordability, safety, and infrastructure over political games. In Indiana specifically, earlier polls by Morning Consult and ARW Strategies showed similar fatigue: voters consistently rank “cost of living” and “taxes” as top concerns, while “redistricting” barely registers as a blip.

In other words, Hoosiers aren’t suddenly woke to process issues — they’re just tired of politicians mistaking inside baseball for public service.

Even among Republicans, loyalty only goes so far. The Bellwether poll found just 37 percent of GOP voters think opposing the redistricting push is “betraying President Trump,” while slightly more — 38 percent — say it’s “standing up for fairness.” That’s not rebellion; that’s reason.

Meanwhile, Across America…

If Indiana Republicans want to know what’s resonating with voters right now, they might want to look outside their echo chamber. Democrats scored surprising victories this week — not just in blue states like New Jersey or Virginia, but in places like Mississippi, where a Democrat won a legislative seat on a message about affordability, healthcare, and basic competence.

Everywhere you look, the pattern is the same: voters are sending the message that they care more about the price of living than the price of politics. Whether you’re red, blue, or somewhere in between, people want elected officials who can bring down costs and stabilize daily life.

And for all the think pieces about “what kind of Democrat should run” — progressive or moderate — the answer is easy. It’s the Howard Dean strategy: you run candidates who fit their districts, but they all speak the same language — affordability. Every campaign should sound like a kitchen-table conversation, not a faculty meeting.

The Bottom Line

Indiana has real challenges. Rising costs. Lagging wages. Schools struggling to keep teachers. None of those problems get solved by fiddling with district lines. Redistricting right now makes as much sense as painting your car while the engine’s on fire.

Hoosiers know it, too. Forty-three percent say they’d be less likely to vote for legislators who support redrawing maps, compared to just 27 percent who’d be more likely. That’s not just bad optics — it’s bad math.

From Carroll County diners to Lake County steelworkers, the message is loud and clear: stop rearranging the map and start fixing the mess.

Governor Braun may think redistricting is smart strategy, but most voters think it’s dumb politics. And when regular Hoosiers sound more grounded than their elected officials, that tells you all you need to know.

So here’s the word from Main Street to the Statehouse:
Put down the highlighters. Step away from the map room.

Because when it comes to midcycle redistricting, the message couldn’t be clearer:
Read their lips — no new maps.