Trump Threatens GOP Senators as Redistricting Chaos Hits Indiana: ‘They Are Not Worthy!’

The Republican plan for the 2026 mid term was simple and bold. Redraw maps in red states to try to lock in more House seats and keep control for the Trump’s last two years in office.

But the scheme is starting to stumble. In Indiana a group of state Senate Republicans pushed back and paused a fast track vote on a new map. Local officials warned a late redraw would cause chaos and cost money.

Donald Trump answered with a public blast and a clear threat. “Why would a real Republican vote against this when the Dems have been doing it for years? If they stupidly say no, vote them out of Office! They are not worthy!” he wrote. He also named nine state senators he said should be punished: Blake Doriot, Brett Clark, Brian Buchanan, Dan Dernulc, Ed Charbonneau, Greg Goode, Jim Buck, Rick Niemeyer and Ryan Mishler.

That kind of pressure is rare and it has made the fight personal. Some Indiana senators say they faced threats and fear for their families. The loud push has split the party and slowed down plans that Trump hoped would roll forward quickly.

Into the noise stepped Representative Jamie Raskin of Maryland with a different pitch. He and allies introduced a bill to require ranked choice voting for all House and Senate races starting in 2030. The idea is to change how votes count so maps have less power.

Raskin opened the interview with a casual line that turned serious fast. “I am thrilled to be with you today, Greg Sargent. Very excited,” he said, then explained the plan plainly.

His pitch was short and easy to follow. “Rank all of the candidates,” he told listeners. Votes for the lowest ranked names move to the next choice until someone gets more than half the votes. That way winners have majority support.

He pointed to real examples where the system worked. Maine and Alaska used ranked choice to elect representatives who built wider coalitions. Supporters say the system reduces wasted votes and can calm nasty campaigning because candidates want second place votes.

Raskin did admit ranked choice is not a cure for everything. “I mean, they want to essentially declare Congress Republican before a single vote is cast,” he warned, noting that clever map makers and new tools can still lock in big advantages.

Still, the idea has appeal because it asks one basic question. Should election rules make it easier for voters to pick leaders or easier for politicians to pick their voters? Raskin says the rules should favor voters.

For now the fight is playing out in state capitals, in party meetings and likely in courtrooms. Some Republicans fear their map plans could backfire by making some seats more vulnerable if they spread GOP voters too thin. That fear has slowed some redistricting moves.

The stakes are clear and raw. One path is to redraw lines now and try to hold power. The other is to change the way votes are counted and try to make every vote matter more. Both sides know what is at risk and both are sharpening their tools.

“This is not the time to be above the fight,” Raskin said as he closed. “It is my pleasure, Greg. Thanks so much for having me.” The line read like a promise. The next moves will tell us if voters or map makers win the day.

Featured image via X screengrab