Indiana GOP redistricting bill fails in state Senate despite pressure from Trump

Gerrymandering is the very worst part of our system. It only exacerbates the partisanship that keeps us divided.

From what I've read, a couple of major issues were at play.

First, the GOP members in Indiana were not happy with all the political strong-arming from the Capitol (mainly the Governor) and in DC (primarily Trump and Vance). Plus, they were determined to not give in to the physical threats against them (bomb threats, being swatted, etc.). This wouldn't have been about anything specific in the bill, but more about the political dynamics from above. Their constituents were mostly happy with the current districts, and they were not (in aggregate) clamoring for change.

Second, I also read that an unspoken worry was creating new red districts would reduce the number of conservative voters in existing red districts. Conservative politicians didn't want their conservative voters carved out of their districts (to shift to the blue districts to make them red), which would just make their own districts more competitive. This could very well have been a result of specific details within the bill because some expressed concern over their communities being split apart.

So, maybe it was part standing up against the pressure campaign and part looking out for self interest. I also wonder if this was the first clear instance of some Republican politicians beginning to think about a post-Trump GOP. After all, he'll very likely never be on another ballot for them to ride on his coattails.

Like you, I was really surprised at the vote. I figured they would line up in support once the bill was placed in front of them.

Sell outs?