INDIANAPOLIS — Republican Gov. Mike Braun remained noncommittal about a mid-decade redistricting push following his meeting with Vice President JD Vance in Indiana on Thursday.
“We covered a wide array of topics. We listened,” Braun told reporters in response to a question about whether an agreement was reached.
The meeting — which took place amid sustained booing by protesters gathered inside the statehouse — went “pretty good,” Braun said.
Vance’s visit to the state comes amid a push from President Donald Trump’s team to redraw maps “everywhere where redistricting is an option.” A plan in Texas is already well underway, where Republican lawmakers drew a new map that could net Republicans as many as five Republican-leaning seats, and Democrats in the Lone Star state fled in a last-ditch effort to stop the map from passing.
A black curtain hung in front of the governor’s office as Vance met with legislative leaders, and Vance left the Statehouse and headed to a local hotel for a Republican National Committee fundraiser.
In statements following their meeting with Vance, neither Republican House Speaker Todd Huston nor Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray mentioned “redistricting.”
One person inside the room, granted anonymity to describe the private conversation, said Vance “made a compelling case for what needs to be done,” as lawmakers asked questions and for more details.
“We’re optimistic they will do the right thing,” the person said. “They understand the microscope they are under.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff James Blair, White House Counsel Dave Warrington and Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Director Alex Meyer traveled to Indiana in their personal capacity to be part of the pitch, according to a person familiar and granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive meeting.
At a rally hosted by Democrats following Vance’s talk with GOP lawmakers, Rep. Frank Mrvan (D-Ind.) said Republicans are “afraid of the polling that they see,” and it’s led them to pursue redrawing the congressional maps.
“I know very confidently, and I believe, humbly, that this is a done deal,” Mrvan said. “No matter if Gov. Braun bends the knee to Vance and Trump, it isn’t going to increase his prospect of being president of the United States.”
Mrvan’s lone Democratic colleague, Rep. Andre Carson, called on Republicans to reject the White House push.
“An attempt to silence our vote exists right now,” Carson told the crowd. “We want our Republican friends to do the right thing.”
