President Trump has publicly targeted Indiana State Senator Rodric Bray on social media, aligning himself with David McIntosh to remove Bray from office. This action is rooted in Bray’s opposition to redrawing Indiana’s congressional maps, a move Trump has been actively encouraging across Republican-controlled states. Trump’s efforts are aimed at bolstering the GOP’s prospects in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections and follows the failure of a redistricting proposal in the Indiana State Senate. The former President has previously criticized Bray for his stance, vowing to ensure he faces a primary challenge, and it remains uncertain whether redistricting will be revisited.
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Following a federal court’s approval of California’s new maps, Virginia Democrats advanced their own redistricting plan, aiming to redraw congressional maps and potentially flip several Republican-held seats. This move, along with California’s victory, represents a significant counteroffensive against the Republican-led redistricting efforts initiated by former President Trump. These changes could potentially secure an additional nine seats for Democrats in the upcoming midterm elections. While other states like Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have seen Republican-led map redraws, these Democratic victories signify a shift in the ongoing redistricting battles.
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Following a ruling that Mississippi’s Supreme Court electoral map violates the Voting Rights Act, a judge has ordered special elections. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock gave the state legislature until the end of its 2026 session to redraw the map, enacted in 1987, which was found to diminish Black voters’ power. The special elections will occur in November 2026 once the new map is approved, with the specific seats subject to election determined afterward. The order stems from a 2022 lawsuit, and the state is appealing the initial ruling, with proceedings stayed pending Supreme Court decisions.
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Indiana lawmakers voted against Trump’s midcycle redistricting push, opting to maintain existing election maps despite pressure from the former president to gerrymander them in favor of Republicans. Trump’s frustration focused on state Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, the primary opponent of redistricting, who favored flipping a current district instead. Trump threatened to support primary challengers against those who didn’t adhere to his agenda, as evidenced by a social media post targeting Bray.
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Originally, Republicans aimed to seize five Democratic-held congressional seats in Texas, a seemingly assured goal. However, shifts in political trends, including President Trump’s declining approval ratings, particularly among Latinos, and strong Democratic performances in recent special elections, have altered the landscape. Democrats overperformed in special elections this year, by at least 13 points in districts Trump won, potentially flipping three of the targeted seats. While Republicans may still make gains nationally, the Texas landscape could prove far less certain, especially given the potential for a Democratic resurgence among Latino voters.
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Indiana State Senator Mike Gaskill controversially declared that a “second civil war has already started” while advocating for a failed redistricting effort supported by former President Donald Trump. Despite pressure from the Trump administration, the Indiana Senate rejected the redistricting bill, which aimed to give the GOP control of all of Indiana’s congressional seats. The proposed map faced criticism, with opponents expressing concerns about gerrymandering and the potential impact on Democratic representation. Meanwhile, other states are also involved in redistricting battles, with both parties preparing for the 2026 midterms.
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In response to the Supreme Court’s decision to allow Texas’s GOP-friendly voting maps for the upcoming midterms, Justice Elena Kagan issued a strong dissent, criticizing the court’s reversal of a lower court’s ruling. Kagan argued that the court did not give the district court’s decision fair consideration, and disregarded the established “clear-error standard of review” in their decision. The ruling, made on the “emergency docket,” allows Texas to use maps the lower court found to be based on racial gerrymandering. This ruling has led to reactions from both sides, including California’s Governor Gavin Newsom attempting to redistrict his state to be more favorable to Democrats.
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In a stunning turn of events, a federal judge in Alabama selected a redistricting map submitted by an anonymous member of the public, identified only as “DD,” over those drafted by a court-appointed special master. The mapmaker, Daniel DiDonato, an 18-year-old college freshman, created the map using readily available online software and data. His success highlights how easily anyone can participate in mapmaking, influencing the political landscape and online communities. The selected map remedies a Voting Rights Act violation.
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U.S. Representative Troy Nehls, representing Texas’ 22nd Congressional District, has announced he will not seek reelection. His twin brother, Trever Nehls, immediately declared his candidacy for the seat, signaling a continuation of the district’s conservative leanings. The announcement comes amidst uncertainty regarding the district’s boundaries, as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on a contested redistricting map. This marks the sixth Republican in Texas’ congressional delegation to retire this cycle, highlighting shifts in the political landscape.
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Indiana Senator Mike Bohacek, a Republican, has announced he will vote against redistricting efforts in the state due to President Donald Trump’s use of a slur in a recent social media post. Trump’s post, which used an offensive term, has been criticized by disability advocates, and Bohacek’s daughter has Down Syndrome. This decision comes as Trump has been urging states like Indiana to redraw congressional maps. The Indiana House is scheduled to discuss a new map on December 1, and the Senate is set to vote on December 8.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Indiana Senator Opposes Redistricting After Trump’s Slur
Indiana Senator Mike Bohacek, a Republican, has announced he will vote against redistricting efforts in the state due to President Donald Trump’s use of a slur in a recent social media post. Trump’s post, which used an offensive term, has been criticized by disability advocates, and Bohacek’s daughter has Down Syndrome. This decision comes as Trump has been urging states like Indiana to redraw congressional maps. The Indiana House is scheduled to discuss a new map on December 1, and the Senate is set to vote on December 8.
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