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In a dramatic move, Hoosier State GOP legislators voted down a measure to redraw the state's U.S. House map on Thursday. This decision marks a pointed rebuke of Donald Trump and wider GOP-led attempts to alter voting maps to favor Republican candidates.

The Roll Call

The measure did not pass by a count of 19 to 31. A significant group of twenty-one GOP lawmakers sided with 10 Democrats to reject the new redistricting plan.

Currently, GOP representatives hold seven of Indiana's 9 congressional districts. The rejected redistricting scheme was crafted to favor Republican-leaning districts in all nine House districts. This aimed to be achieved through multiple major changes:

• Carving up the Democratic stronghold of the state capital into 4 separate districts.
• Attaching portions of the city's voters to adjacent heavily GOP regions.
• Splitting the northwest congressional district, presently held by Frank Mrvan, into 2 new areas.

Defecting Senator

State Sen. Greg Goode, a key GOP holdout, voted against the map. In a extended floor speech, he asserted that his vote reflected the desires of his voters.

"I am a Christian first and foremost, then an American citizen, then a conservative thinker, then a member of the GOP – in that order," he stated. "I am convinced that my decision represents the will of my people."

Wider Gerrymandering Fight

This effort in Indiana took place during a country-wide push by former President Trump to pressure the redrawing of congressional maps to secure more GOP seats ahead of next year's midterm elections. The GOP presently maintain a narrow lead in the House and are widely expected to shed ground in the upcoming election.

Elsewhere, Republicans in Texas, the Tar Heel State, and Missouri have each redrawn maps to favor their party. Meanwhile, Democratic legislators have retaliated by redrawing districts in states like the Golden State to possibly add several Democratic seats. The Democratic party in Virginia are also positioned to overhaul maps for Democratic gain.

Intense Pressure

The former president waged a bare-knuckled effort to lobby Indiana GOP lawmakers to pass the redistricting plan. Vice President J.D. Vance allegedly visited the state capitol on several occasions to lobby state senators.

In a post on his social media platform, the former president voiced his anger on Wednesday. "All other State has done Redistricting, willingly, transparently, and easily. There was no doubt in their mind that helping to secure a WIN in the midterms for the Republican Party was a good move to do for our party, and for America itself," he posted. "Sadly, Indiana Senate Leader Senator Rod Bray seems to enjoy being the sole individual in the United States of America who is opposed to the GOP picking up extra seats, in Indiana’s instance, two of them."

Threats and Attacks

In the days to the critical vote, Indiana GOP senators reportedly faced death threats and swatting attempts. Additionally, VP J.D. Vance and Donald Trump Jr. publicly targeted Senator Rod Bray (R) ahead of the Thursday roll call.

The advocacy group Heritage Action, the advocacy arm of the right-leaning think tank, also weighed in, stating on the day of the vote that the state would be stripped of congressional funds if it failed to pass the map. Their statement suggested that critical infrastructure initiatives and operations would be impacted.