The state Senate in Indiana defeated a plan to redraw the voting map, in a method that would have flipped two Home seats. This was regardless of months of stress from President Trump.
AILSA CHANG, HOST:
For the primary time, Republican state lawmakers have voted down President Trump’s name for congressional redistricting. The vote occurred in Indiana at present. The state Senate there defeated a plan to redraw the voting map in a method that would have flipped two Home seats that are actually held by Democrats. This was regardless of months of stress from Trump, who’s been pushing Republican-led states to redistrict and assist the occasion maintain on to the Home in subsequent yr’s midterm elections. We’re joined now by Ben Thorpe from WFYI on the Capitol constructing in Indianapolis. Hello, Ben.
BEN THORPE, BYLINE: Hello.
CHANG: OK, so inform us concerning the debate and the vote within the state Senate at present.
THORPE: So there have been months of stress from Washington and back-and-forth over how the senators had been going to vote. I feel it is value emphasizing that right here in Indiana, they’re overwhelmingly Republican. There have been protesters in opposition to redistricting that you may hear from contained in the Senate chamber at present, and looming over every thing was this stress from the Trump administration. This is one of many Republicans who opposed the brand new voting map, State Senator Spencer Deery.
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SPENCER DEERY: And so long as I’ve breath, I’ll use my voice to withstand a federal authorities that makes an attempt to bully, direct and management this state or any state. Giving the federal authorities extra energy is just not conservative.
THORPE: Opponents additionally famous that states normally redistrict early within the decade after the census is available in. Republicans simply handed the present map in 2021. And Democrats – there are solely 10 within the Senate – stated the brand new map would have break up up voters in Indianapolis in ways in which would weaken the voting energy of Black communities and may very well be unlawful racial gerrymandering.
CHANG: OK. And ultimately, the vote was 31 in opposition to and 19 in favor – is that proper?
THORPE: That is appropriate.
CHANG: So what was the case that Republicans in favor of redistricting making (ph)?
THORPE: So Republicans in favor of this new map have pointed to Democratic states the place they see gerrymandering happening and have argued that Indiana has a accountability to attempt a fair the taking part in subject for Republicans. A part of their concern has been that if Democrats are capable of regain management of the Home it is going to be a setback for the MAGA agenda and will result in one other impeachment effort in opposition to Trump. This is Republican State Senator Mike Younger.
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MIKE YOUNG: Solely a handful of districts all through america will decide who controls Congress, and we might or might not do our half at present to maintain our nation within the arms of Republicans.
THORPE: So Republicans principally noticed the 2 Democratic congressional seats within the state as one thing that they might redistrict to present Republicans that edge.
CHANG: And what was President Trump doing particularly to attempt to push this redistricting by way of?
THORPE: There was a variety of stress. President Trump has been calling out Republican senators on social media, has threatened to help major challenges in opposition to any lawmaker who’s in help of this map. So it has been actually tense. After which in current weeks, a number of senators reported nameless threats in opposition to them. Some stated police had been referred to as out to their houses with false studies of swatting assaults that would have been actually harmful.
CHANG: Wow, OK. So then general, the place does Trump’s redistricting push stand at this second?
THORPE: Republicans nonetheless have a couple of seats’ lead on this nationwide redistricting race. They redistricted in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri. Democrats have solely counted to date in California. However different Republican states – Kansas and Florida – have thought-about it, and we’ll see in the event that they’re watching what occurred right here in Indiana at present.
CHANG: That’s Ben Thorpe from WFYI. Thanks a lot, Ben.
THORPE: Thanks.
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