Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN) on Monday announced his support for redrawing congressional districts in Indiana as the mid-decade redistricting battle between Republicans and Democrats intensifies.
“Democrats have proven they will use every tool available to them to gain and keep power,” Stutzman wrote on X. “For years, Republicans have idly stood by while the Left has weaponized government against us. It’s time for us to drop the gloves.”
Stutzman is the first Indiana House Republican, if not the first federal lawmaker, to endorse President Donald Trump’s redistricting efforts.
“At this moment, our state has the opportunity to give conservative Hoosiers the representation in DC they deserve,” he continued. “I stand with President Trump, it’s time to redraw Indiana’s congressional map!”
Stutzman diverged from other Indiana Republicans, most of whom have either opposed the GOP-led redistricting push or remained silent on the matter. Vice President JD Vance met with Gov. Mike Braun (R-IN) and Republican leadership in the state legislature this month to convince them otherwise.
Despite being a Republican, pro-Trump lawmaker, Indiana state Rep. J.D. Prescott said redistricting goes “too far” and sets “a bad precedent” for other states to follow.
Indiana is facing pressure to join states like Texas in calling for a special legislative session to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The effort is intended to protect the House GOP’s narrow majority, as called for by Trump.
Democrats are pushing back by pursuing redistricting measures of their own, with California leading the pack. Meanwhile, more than 50 Texas state Democrats fled the state in protest of Republicans’ redistricting agenda. The lawmakers returned to the Texas Capitol in Austin on Monday.
INDIANA REPUBLICANS EXPRESS LITTLE INTEREST IN MID-DECADE REDISTRICTING FOLLOWING VANCE’S VISIT
Like their peers in Texas, Indiana Democrats oppose Republicans’ attempts to add more House seats. Some Indiana state Democrats even joined their Texas colleagues during a press conference in Chicago last week.
Indiana Republicans were reportedly invited to the White House next week to discuss the possible redistricting of congressional seats in favor of the House GOP, according to ABC News. Indiana has seven Republicans and two Democrats in the House.