Indiana's High-Stakes Special Session: Trump's Push for New Congressional Maps Sparks More Political Chaos

With loyalty to Trump colliding with local backlash over tax reforms, Hoosier Republicans face a volatile political showdown at the Statehouse

Natalie C. Frank, Ph.D. September 12, 2025

Indiana Statehouse; Wikipedia [CC BY-SA 4.0]

INDIANAPOLIS - Pressure is mounting in the Indiana Statehouse as President Donald J. Trump pushes for a special session to redraw the state's congressional districts. Republican legislators are split behind closed doors, balancing loyalty to Trump with skepticism of the political risk of doing so and growing outrage from local leaders still stinging from last session's tax reforms.

Sources at the Statehouse confirm Senate Republicans met in caucus on Wednesday and House Republicans will meet virtually on Friday. Yet, in spite of these gatherings, the leadership is unusually quiet. Speaker of the House Todd Huston and President of the Senate Rodric Bray have refused to take public positions, with Bray leaving the GOP Senate caucus without speaking.

There is "considerable" opposition in both houses to a special session, say multiple well-positioned sources. Public backing has been minimal, with few members, such as Reps. Craig Haggard and Andrew Ireland, speaking out in support. Rep. Jim Lucas, a onetime "hard no," became willing to consider it only after Indiana's congressional delegation visited the White House in late August.

Still, the prevailing belief among insiders is that a special session is inevitable, likely before November’s Organization Day. This is attributed to Trump’s enduring personal sway over many Hoosier Republicans. “If you’re a Republican, it’s hard to say no to the president. He holds the Trump card,” one longtime observer put it.

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