Donald Trump’s attempt to redraw congressional maps in red states to give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 elections is running into unexpected resistance.
Indiana became the latest state to resist the president’s push. The state Senate announced it would not hold a session next month to consider changes to voting districts.
“Over the last several months, Senate Republicans have given very serious and thoughtful consideration to the concept of redrawing our state’s congressional maps. Today, I’m announcing there are not enough votes to move that idea forward,” said Indiana Senate President pro tempore Rodric Bray. His words made it clear that Trump’s plan would not get traction in the Hoosier State.
The decision came despite pressure from the White House. GOP Governor Mike Braun had called a special session to redraw the state’s House map. Vice President JD Vance even met with state Republicans twice to push the effort. But at least eight Senate Republicans had already voiced opposition, showing that not everyone in the party is willing to follow Trump’s lead.
Trump allies were quick to react. Chris LaCivita, a former campaign co-manager, posted on X that Bray was announcing his “retirement.” Alex Bruesewitz, another Trump adviser, called the Indiana decision a “monumental betrayal” and said that “spineless RINO ‘legislators’ have sabotaged and buried Republicans’ vital redistricting push.”
Indiana is not alone in blocking Trump’s plan.
Utah also delivered a setback this week when State Judge Dianna Gibson struck down a Republican attempt to draw an all-red congressional map. Democrats in Salt Lake City are now expected to gain an extra House seat after the ruling.
Meanwhile, California took a different approach. Voters there overwhelmingly approved Proposition 50, which allows the state to redraw congressional maps temporarily. The move is meant to counter Republican gerrymandering in red states.
“These losers lost at the ballot box and soon they will also lose in court,” Newsom’s office said in response to a lawsuit from the Justice Department. Attorney General Pam Bondi had called the measure “immoral and illegal,” sparking a legal fight that is likely to continue for months.
Political analysts say these developments show that Trump’s influence is not absolute. Cook Political Report’s Dave Wasserman noted that Democrats have quietly been winning small battles that have “pushed the mid-decade redistricting war closer to a draw.”
The resistance comes from both practical and ethical concerns. Some Republicans fear that redrawing districts purely for party advantage could backfire politically and damage trust in elections. Others simply want to avoid giving Trump an easy win before the midterms.
Virginia and Florida remain the next key battlegrounds. Leaders in both states are preparing for potential moves in response to Trump’s demands, but it is too early to know whether they will comply or resist like Indiana.
Trump’s setbacks are piling up. Indiana’s Senate said no, Utah courts blocked gerrymandering, and California voters are fighting back. Even within his own party, the push for redistricting is facing resistance from lawmakers who are unwilling to follow orders without question.
Featured image via Youtube screengrab
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