Indiana Senate rejects GOP-drawn congressional map in a major rebuke of Trump

Trump and national Republicans pushed Indiana lawmakers for new district lines that could have allowed the party to gain two seats in next year’s midterms.

The Indiana Senate voted against a new Republican-drawn congressional map Thursday, rejecting a bid led by Donald Trump aimed at boosting the party in next year’s midterm elections.

The vote was a rare and stunning instance of elected Republicans rebuking Trump, who had pressured Indiana lawmakers for months to pass new district lines. The GOP leaders of Indiana’s Senate had long resisted joining the unusual mid-decade redistricting battle playing out across the country, saying there wasn’t enough support in the chamber for a new map that was designed to dismantle the state’s two Democratic-controlled districts.

They ultimately agreed to hold a vote to settle the issue, as Trump and national Republicans pledged to back primary challengers to those who opposed the map, and as a growing number of Indiana lawmakers faced violent threats and harassment.

But even after the state House approved the new map last week, it failed overwhelmingly in the state Senate by a vote of 31-19, with 21 Republicans joining 10 Democrats in opposing it.