Indiana Gov. Mike Braun called the state legislature back to the Capitol for a special session next week in an attempt to push a group of recalcitrant Republicans into approving new congressional maps called for by President Donald Trump.
“I am calling a special legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair,” Braun said in a statement.
The move comes almost a week after Indiana Republicans said the state party did not have the votes it needed to pass Trump’s redistricting effort.
Braun said Monday, speaking to local station 91.3 FM WBIC, that any comments about Republicans lacking the votes are not speaking from within the party.
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“When you hear, ‘The votes aren’t there,’ that’s mostly coming from Democrats and others that don’t want it to occur,” he said. “Once this goes public, you’ll have people getting off the fence, and you’re going to see the votes will be there.”
State House Speaker Todd Huston and Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray have yet to publicly say where they stand on redistricting. A poll commissioned by Unite America this month found that 44% of Indiana residents oppose redrawing the congressional districts, with just 31% supporting it.
On Monday, Huston said in a brief statement to Indiana Capital Chronicle that House Republicans “received the Governor’s call for a special session and will continue having conversations within our caucus and with our counterparts in the Senate on our next steps.”
It is unclear how long the special session will last considering the unknown number of Republicans in support. A bill must be heard three times in each chamber, meaning a likely minimum of six days.
Vice President JD Vance has visited the state at least three times to meet with state GOP leaders, as the White House publicly backs efforts in Republican states to redraw congressional maps to be more favorable for the party.
As of Monday, 12 Indiana Senate Republicans have come out in support while five are against, according to tracking by the Indiana Capital Chronicle. The remaining 40-member caucus is undecided or has yet to comment publicly.
Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder called Braun’s decision to convene a special session “a political stunt at the expense of every working Hoosier,” accusing state Republicans of bowing to national pressure.
“This is not democracy. This is desperation,” Yoder said in a statement issued on behalf of the Senate Democratic Caucus.
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