Nov. 16 (UPI) — President Donald Trump on Sunday criticized Indiana state lawmakers who have dropped an effort to seek a vote for the potential redistricting of congressional seats.
Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, a Republican, had called a special session last month to consider redrawing the state’s congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Rodric Bray, the president pro tempore of the Indiana Senate, issued a statement Friday that said Republicans did not have enough votes “to move the idea forward.”
Trump called Bray a “RINO,” which stands for “Republican in Name Only,” for not pursuing a vote in a post to his Truth Social platform Sunday.
“Very disappointed in Indiana State Senate Republicans, led by RINO Senators Rod Bray and Greg Goode, for not wanting to redistrict their state, allowing the United States Congress to perhaps gain two more Republican seats,” Trump said.
Trump then said that Democrats “have done redistricting for years,” which he falsely said was often done “illegally.”n
“They could be depriving Republicans of a majority in the House, a very big deal!” Trump said in his post.
He also criticized his “friend,” Braud, who he said “is not working the way he should to get the necessary votes.”
“Considering that Mike wouldn’t be governor without me (not even close!), is disappointing!” Trump said. “Any Republican that votes against this important redistricting, potentially having an impact on America itself, should be primaried.”
A number of states across the country have revisited their congressional maps after Texas Republicans earlier this year pushed through a map projected to give the GOP five additional seats.
In response, California Democrats advanced changes expected to create five new Democratic-leaning districts, setting off a wave of similar efforts in other states from both parties.
Normally, Congressional districts are normally remapped every ten years after the U.S. Census has been completed.