Indiana Capital Chronicle
For The Republic
INDIANAPOLIS — A few dozen Hoosiers gathered under the Indiana Statehouse rotunda Tuesday morning to call on lawmakers to approve new congressional district maps that could give Republicans a 9-0 advantage in the U.S. House delegation.
The event coincided with Organization Day, the ceremonial start of the 2026 legislative session, when lawmakers return to Indianapolis to set priorities for the months ahead.
Many attendees wore stickers and held signs reading “9-0” and “Let’s get this done!” Organizers also asked participants to fill out postcards urging their state senators to “PLEASE SUPPORT REDISTRICTING.”
The calls are part of a national movement among Republican activists and political leaders to demand that Indiana’s GOP-controlled General Assembly redraw the state’s congressional map so that all nine districts are represented by Republicans, instead of the current 7-2 split.
Supporters argue that Democrat-led states have drawn maps favorable to their own party and that Indiana should respond in kind.
But key Statehouse Republicans have rebutted.
Senate GOP leadership announced last week that the caucus lacks the necessary votes to pass redistricting legislation and — despite an official special session order from the governor — will not convene in December to consider new maps.
The Senate chamber additionally voted on Tuesday to adjourn until Jan. 5 — further refusing redistricting efforts.
Beckwith, Morales drop in
Gov. Mike Braun, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray and House Speaker Todd Huston were just steps away at a separate Statehouse event on Tuesday. None appeared at the pro-redistricting gathering.
But Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith and Secretary of State Diego Morales both made remarks, prompting short bursts of “9-0” chants from the crowd.
“Redistricting is not a political stunt,” Beckwith said. “This is the most bipartisan issue on the face of the earth when you have Akeem Jeffries, (U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), Gavin Newsom, Donald Trump, Mike Braun, Micah Beckwith and Diego Morales all saying the same thing. This is the most bipartisan issue in America right now.”
“We are standing up for a fair voice in Washington, D.C., and so we want the fair maps,” he continued. “We want the maps to be redrawn because places like Illinois, California and New England states are stealing our voice in D.C. Redistricting is the right thing to do. We should stand with the president, stand with the governor, and I’m proud to do so.”
Shortly after, Morales addressed the crowd, too, calling redistricting an urgent priority.
“Republicans need to start acting like Republicans,” Morales said. “We didn’t start this fight, but if we don’t stand up now, we risk letting Washington drown Indiana’s voice.”
The secretary of state emphasized that Indiana “needs a nine-zero, America first delegation representing us in Congress.”
“Zero hesitation, zero backing down — because the stakes are too high,” Morales said. “Show up. Stand up for fair maps. Stand up for President Trump and our Hoosier State.”
‘We deserve to know where everyone stands’
John and LeAnne Kendall of Hancock County said they attended the rally because they believe the issue affects both state and national representation. Their state senator, Mike Crider, has not publicly stated where he stands on redistricting, but he was among the senators who voted Tuesday to adjourn until January.
“This is one of the most critical issues in our country right now, and we have a great opportunity in Indiana to make a difference — an impact in Congress — that will make sure everyone from this state is represented as they should be,” John said. “Indiana is an overwhelmingly Republican state.”
LeAnne added that “states have been badly gerrymandered by Democrats for too long,” and said state senators “need to get their act together” and “answer the call.”
“They need to show up, and they need to vote,” she continued. “I think the votes are there. … And there would be a lot more ‘yeses’ if they had to vote live, in front of all of us. We deserve to know where everyone stands, because this is what Hoosiers want.”
Three statewide polls have found Hoosiers against redistricting.
Still, John pointed to Indiana’s most recent election results from November 2024, which he said was evidence that “a majority” of Hoosiers want “solid Republican representation” at both the state and federal levels.
“We can’t afford to have uncommitted, RINOs in office,” John said, referring to an acronym that most commonly means “Republican in name only.”
“Republicans (in Indiana) deserve and demand a 9-0 map,” he continued. “It’s anti-Republican and anti-American, in my view, for the people we put into office — in the Statehouse — to deny us that.”
— The Indiana Capital Chronicle covers state government and the state legislature. For more, visit indianacapitalchronicle.com.
