* The vote was 19 in favor to 31 against. Indianapolis Star…
The Indiana Senate rejected mid-decade redistricting today, capping off a bitter state fight for control of Congress that has divided the GOP, spurred violent threats and dramatically changed the political landscape ahead of the midterm elections.
The failure will likely be seen by President Donald Trump and his allies as a rebuke of his vision for cementing a congressional majority at all costs. Several groups have promised to spend top dollar on unseating those who oppose redistricting, setting the stage for a messy primary if the Senate did not pass the bill.
* The bill’s sponsor, Sen. Mike Gaskill (R-Pendleton) warned members during his closing arguments about this threat…
Transcript…
And then I tell you, I believe what Washington DC says, whether it’s right or whether it’s wrong, consider this is going to be important to you as all of us, when they take away all the money that they can take away from this state and not give it to us, our citizens will be harmed. Our duty is not to be here to harm our citizens. Our duty is to be here to help our citizens. And if we don’t get that money, especially the block grant education money, we will be harmed.
* Sen. Gaskill regarding Republican primary threats from the president and his cohorts…
I know what’s about to happen to some of my friends in this chamber. You can believe it or not. You can believe it or not, but when they come into your districts, and I’m not lying, with $2-3 million, I know you’ll try your best. You’ll do what you can. But I believe in the end, most of you won’t be here anymore, and that takes courage to give up your seat when you don’t want to help, or, I’ll take that back, when you have an opportunity to help your country.
Just two of the threats…
Bray voted “No.”
* This post will likely be updated.
*** UPDATE 1 *** This doesn’t necessarily take the issue off the table here. Gov. Pritzker has said he would push to remap Illinois’ congressional districts if Indiana changed theirs. Pritzker said earlier that were “paired” with Indiana. Does this mean we could pair up with another Republican state? I’ve asked the governor’s office for clarification…
*** UPDATE 2 *** From a Pritzker spokesperson in response to my above question: “As he’s said many times, all options remain on the table.” So, I guess he’s not taking it off the table.
* Congressional candidate Willie Preston, who also chairs the Senate Black Caucus…
“Donald Trump started this gerrymander war because he knows his policies and performance are so unpopular that they threaten his House majority. And lap dogs like the Indiana Senate almost followed his commands to the letter by enabling an extraordinary and anti-Constitutional mid-decade gerrymander.
“But two wrongs don’t make a right. With the Indiana threat gone and Democrats on the march around this country, I urge Governor Pritzker and our legislative leaders to abandon any redistricting in Illinois that further dilutes Black political power. We have already done our job in Illinois to protect Democratic values. Now let’s not sacrifice our core principles in the pursuit of power. Black Democrats have already given so much to our Party and this nation. We should not be asked to give more.”
*** UPDATE 3 *** From John Patterson, the spokesperson for Senate President Don Harmon…
We will review our options as needed
*** UPDATE 4 *** House Speaker Chris Welch…
In Indiana, Democrats and a few courageous Republicans rightly stood up to Donald Trump’s gerrymandering schemes. To protect and preserve our Republic, we need more Republicans across the country to stand up and fight back against Trump and MAGA’s tyranny. In Illinois, we remain vigilant and committed to protecting our democracy.
- NIU Grad - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 3:56 pm:
A solidly Red legislature eating itself alive and being blackmailed out of federal funding and we’re not even a year into this presidency. The future of MAGA is looking wild.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 3:57 pm:
- And then I tell you, I believe what Washington DC says, whether it’s right or whether it’s wrong, consider this is going to be important to you as all of us, when they take away all the money that they can take away from this state -
I may not be anyone of great importance in this world, but I d@*n sure know I’m not a coward like this. Good on the 21 GOP Senators that called the obvious bluff.
- JoanP - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:01 pm:
Sen. Gaskill wants to cave in to blackmail. He can have a chapter in “Profiles in Cowardice”.
- I-55 Fanatic - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:05 pm:
Feeling proud of the Indiana GOP is a weird feeling. First time for everything, I guess.
If you’re Pritzker, you’ve gotta be relieved to see it going this way. Cramming through a remap in the Spring would be a Herculean task.
- Mamacita - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:08 pm:
Hoosiers may be leading the way in saving the Republic-first with Dan Quayle supporting Mike Pence in certifying the 2020 election results on Jan 6, and now with the no votes to mid-decade redistricting. Of course the Hoosiers were part of who got us back into this mess, but I’m trying to be more positive this holiday season.
- Ares - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:20 pm:
When a deep-red Legislature fears loss of Federal funding, one knows things are getting crazy. If only Northwestern’s Board of Trustees leadership and 80-something President had seen this coming, would they have caved?
- Crispy - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:20 pm:
Feeling a lot more charitable toward Hoosiers, all of a sudden.
- CA-HOON! - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:23 pm:
Senator Gaskill is like a hostage negotiator who is in league with the hostage takers. Sickening.
- lake county democrat - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:23 pm:
Credit where it’s due - the Indiana GOP Republicans standing up to Trump are profiles in courage.
- Michael McLean - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:26 pm:
=== I urge Governor Pritzker and our legislative leaders to abandon any redistricting in Illinois that further dilutes Black political power ===
It is possible to draw a 15-2, or even a 16-1 map that adheres to this demand from Senator Preston.
- Leap Day William - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:27 pm:
Well, that was just an empty threat from Heritage Action because Indiana already doesn’t pave their roads.
- Norseman - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:29 pm:
It’s refreshing to see some backbone in Indiana. I hope to see more of this along with a rejection of the hate and lie mode of operation MAGA GOP uses.
- Demoralized - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:30 pm:
==These are the stakes and every NO vote will be to blame.”
No, Trump will be to blame. That’s it. Nobody else. The only way to deal with a bully is to stand up to them. The Indiana Senate did just that. Good for them.
- I-55 Fanatic - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:31 pm:
+1 on what McLean said. Notwithstanding this decision from Indiana, I am begging Senator Preston and other nay sayers to please do the cartographical math.
- Mason County - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:32 pm:
=It’s refreshing to see some backbone in Indiana=
100% agree. Wish other states, including Illinois, would follow this model.
- JS Mill - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:42 pm:
= Wish other states, including Illinois, would follow this model.=
Spoiler alert: Illinois has and is.
Funny thing, I remember when the gop used to complain about weaponization of government. Now it is their only consistent platform.
- B - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:42 pm:
Kudos to Indiana for being on the right side of history for once. It is my opinion that Illinois should stand down now. We should not risk our 14-3 advantage now that Indiana has backed down. We need Virginia to pass theirs, and it appears only Florida is left on the GOP side
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:45 pm:
Let’s go, Hoosiers!
- Dotnonymous x - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:46 pm:
- Sen. Gaskill wants to cave in to blackmail. He can have a chapter in “Profiles in Cowardice”. -
That’s gonna be one heavy book.
- TheInvisibleMan - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:56 pm:
–
And then I tell you, I believe what Washington DC says, whether it’s right or whether it’s wrong, consider this is going to be important to you as all of us, when they take away all the money that they can take away from this state and not give it to us, our citizens will be harmed.
–
One of the most important and yet unintended things I learned by attending a Catholic grade school, is learning at a very young age how to recognize this for exactly what it is.
“Look what you made me do to you. It’s your fault.”
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 5:13 pm:
Someone’s going to be rage tweeting from the golden throne all night.
- Pot calling kettle - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:03 pm:
The 21 Indiana Senate Republicans did the right thing, but they probably understand a few things the MAGA drones choose to ignore. 1) It is unlikely that all 21 will see a strong primary challenge - the Republicans will need to save their resources for the fall. 2) The current move to redistrict could very easily backfire if next Fall becomes a D wave. To make more R-leaning districts, you must shift R voters out of those districts and replace them with D voters. With recent special elections showing significant shifts to the D side (13, 17, & 19 point shifts in strong R districts inn TN & FL), diluting the R vote is looking like a risky move.
- Mason County - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:13 pm:
=- JS Mill - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 4:42 pm:
= Wish other states, including Illinois, would follow this model.=
Spoiler alert: Illinois has and is.
NEWS FLASH! Illinois has not but you entitled to your own opinion. We have one of the most gerrymandered Congressional districts in the nation!
- ChicagoVinny - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:29 pm:
Trump at 36 percent approval in gallup. Some folks in the Indiana GOP can read a poll. Gerrymanders are brittle in wave elections.
- Steve - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:31 pm:
-Wish other states, including Illinois, would follow this model.-
JS Mill has given me the laugh of the day. Right now the Wilmette Golf Course is in two Congressional districts. Should Illinois go for a 3rd or 4th district off the golf course in the name of equity and fairness?
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:39 pm:
Ten years from now we’ll look back at this moment as the one when Trump officially became a lame duck President. Most 2nd term Presidents get about 1.5 years, and Trump could only get less than 11 months.
- B - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:44 pm:
Spare me with villainizing Illinois. Country wide GOP has way more gerrymandered districts overall amd it is the GOP who voted down a nationwide fair maps bill.
So tired of the hypocrites mad at dem states for doing it at all but say nothing or pretend to be unaware that the GOP is by far the most gerrymandered party.
- JB13 - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:51 pm:
– We remain vigilant and committed to protecting our democracy –
– Illinois will remain vigilant against his map rigging -
Pronouns doing a lot of work in those sentences.
- Steve - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 6:57 pm:
-What does a mouthbreather like you think that signifies?-
That’s legendary gerrymandering stuff that’s quite innovative. Can’t even play a round of 18 holes in one congressional district. Wealthy little Wilmette gets 2 Congressmen just so that map can be maximized .
- Don't Bloc Me In - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 7:15 pm:
=Can’t even play a round of 18 holes in one congressional district.==
Oh, the humanity. Is this what you’re blaming your golf game on?
- Big Dipper - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 7:20 pm:
Do any voters live at the golf course? If not, what voting blocs are affected?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 7:36 pm:
===Right now the Wilmette Golf Course is in===
Is this the sort of thing that rankles you North Shore types?
Man, people get so angry about the weirdest things.
- Walker - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 7:47 pm:
Remember Trump’s first VP, Mike Pence, who stood up when it counted — Indiana Republican legislators certainly do.
- Grandson of Man - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 7:47 pm:
Congrats to brave Republicans who risk violent threats and ending their political careers. They far outshine others whose roles are to confront this administration, but portray it as normal, or cave to it.
Here is a Trib headline that didn’t age well at all, wishful thinking from Illinois’ eternal optimists.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/12/10/indiana-senate-on-verge-of-passing-redistricting-bill/
- JS Mill - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 7:50 pm:
=NEWS FLASH! Illinois has not but you entitled to your own opinion. We have one of the most gerrymandered Congressional districts in the nation!=
You and @Steve are precious. Just the kind of voters trump depends on.
Everyone knows Illinois is gerrymandered. Honest people can admit that. What the under informed or (worse) dishonest maga voters won’t own is that red states are as gerrymandered as the blue.
====Right now the Wilmette Golf Course is in====
More importantly, what districts are your polo club in? The horrors of living on the north shore are just unbearable.
- Excitable Boy - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 8:13 pm:
- Can’t even play a round of 18 holes in one congressional district. -
So we should draw districts around golf courses? Do your lips move when you read?
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 8:29 pm:
Okay, I am a North Shore/NW Suburban guy.
. By that logic, my Portillos is in 8 and my Metra stop is in 5 while i live in 9.
Why would I care where your golf course is? That is beyond nerd level thought
WHO CARES?
- 44 - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 8:56 pm:
PLay the long game. You want strong representation in both parties when bringing home federal dollars. Winds change. We want to catch them all.
- Red Ranger - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 9:18 pm:
I wonder if the Speaker kept a straight face when he said that? Did he go on to say hes working night and day to reduce the sky-high property taxes in our state?
- Rich Miller - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 9:37 pm:
===Can’t even play a round of 18 holes in one congressional district===
I sent this to a buddy of mine. Turns out, the congressional district line follows the same line between New Trier and Northfield townships through Wilmette Golf Club.
So, please, pretty please, spare us the faux outrage.
- Just Me 2 - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 9:38 pm:
===Remember Trump’s first VP, Mike Pence, who stood up when it counted — Indiana Republican legislators certainly do.===
Hmmm, I wonder if former VP Pence made any discrete calls.
Someone with more time on their hands than me can research if Bray and Pence served together somewhere.
- Michelle Flaherty - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 9:43 pm:
Won’t Indiana have to redistrict anyway when they add all those Illinois counties?
- Candy Dogood - Thursday, Dec 11, 25 @ 10:15 pm:
1.) If the threat is that someone will spend millions of dollars to unseat you and surrender to that threat that just means your price is zero. If you don’t make them spend it, you’ve sold yourself for nothing.
2.) Great news. Let national figures of the GOP waste their time campaigning against incumbent GOP state legislative members that reside in safe GOP legislative districts, congressional districts, and counties.
3.) I’m not sure having a multimillionaire whose family has earned hundreds of millions of dollars during the first year of the Trump Administration show up to talk to working class voters is an effective election strategy right now. I hope they bet on it.
- joand315 - Friday, Dec 12, 25 @ 12:12 am:
I’m sure the Indiana farmers that live in those Republican districts can’t wait for JD Vance to visit. They might have some words for him.
- Leatherneck - Friday, Dec 12, 25 @ 8:06 am:
If we remap, will it be only the Congressional map, or will we also remap the current GA map too?
Also, I can’t find it there at the moment but someone earlier last fall someone put a map on Dave’s Redistricting App that attempted to create a 3rd Latinx seat. In addition to keeping the three current African-American seats. Although it looked like the guy used a lot of interstate medians to connect different parts of his districts, including the “third Latinx seat” (the Stevenson between Chicago and Joliet was one of them). Should we try for a third Latinx seat if the map gets a redo this winter?