By ASHLEY FOWLER
WISH-TV | wishtv.com
Gov. Mike Braun (R) on Monday called a special legislative session to discuss redistricting.
The special session will convene on Monday, Nov. 3, according to a statement from Braun’s office.
“I am calling a special legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair,” Braun said in a statement Monday.
The announcement came following months of debate on whether Indiana would join several other states in deciding whether or not to pursue mid-decade redistricting.
Both President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance have discussed redistricting with Indiana lawmakers a number times in the last few months. Vance most recently visited the Hoosier State on Oct. 10, a handful of weeks after his first visit in August.
Redistricting has been a point of contention for Indiana lawmakers. Following Vance’s August visit, several on the Democratic side of the aisle expressed frustration and discussed the dangers of redistricting. Late last week, some Republican lawmakers doubted whether a special session would happen.
On Thursday, a spokesperson for Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rod Bray (R-Martinsville) told News 8’s Garrett Bergquist that “the votes aren’t there for redistricting.” On Monday morning, less than an hour after Braun’s announcement became public, Bray’s office said, “the votes still aren’t there for redistricting.”
Later that day, Gov. Braun said on X that he was “still having positive conversations with members of the legislature” and was “confident the majority of Indiana Statehouse Republicans” would support a special session on redistricting.
So far, Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have approved reshaping their districts to favor Republican seats. Meanwhile, California, a Democratic stronghold, may also push to redistrict to counter those Republican seats.
Updating Indiana’s tax code
Redistricting is not the only topic lawmakers will discuss during the special session.
Braun says he has asked the legislature to “conform Indiana’s tax code with new federal tax provisions to ensure stability and certainty for taxpayers and tax preparers for 2026 filings.”
Indiana uses federal tax law as the starting point for its state tax return, and recent changes in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act affect Indiana’s tax filings.
Braun says addressing these tax discrepancies in the special session “will provide taxpayers, accountants, and businesses the confidence and clarity ahead of filing season [and] avoid amended returns and filing delays.”
This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/indiana-news/gov-braun-calls-special-session-on-redistricting-tax-compliance-issues.
Editor’s note: The following responses from state legislators were not a part of WISH’s original coverage. However, we have decided to include them with this post given they are related to the story above.
Baldwin: Indiana’s voices are increasingly drowned out in Congress
Submitted by Office of State Sen. Scott Baldwin
Baldwin
State Sen. Scott Baldwin (R-Noblesville) issued this statement regarding Governor Mike Braun’s call for a special session to address potential redistricting.
“As a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and former homicide detective, I’ve spent much of my life dedicated to protecting Americans and upholding the rule of law. That same commitment guides my work today at the Statehouse, and it’s why I support efforts to strengthen Indiana’s voice in Congress through redistricting.
“Lenient U.S. border policies have led to tens of thousands of American lives lost annually due to fentanyl trafficking. In fact, fentanyl now kills more Americans every single year than the total number of U.S. service members killed in combat since the beginning of the Vietnam War.
“We need more voices in Washington who will join our congressional delegation in supporting meaningful action to confront this threat, and redistricting gives Indiana an opportunity to help send them.
“It’s no secret that many blue states are already heavily gerrymandered to benefit the Democratic Party. They continue to squeeze out additional blue seats from already blue states, while the voices of states like Indiana are increasingly drowned out in Congress. Redistricting now stands to elevate Hoosier voices for critical issues in Congress.”
Garcia Wilburn calls for action on cost of living, not new congressional maps
Submitted by Office of State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn
Garcia Wilburn
On Monday, Oct. 27, Governor Mike Braun signed a proclamation requesting the Indiana General Assembly to convene a special session on Nov. 3 to redraw Indiana’s congressional maps in the middle of the decade, going into effect for next year’s midterm elections.
State Representative Victoria Garcia Wilburn calls this an unprecedented action following the majority party of the Indiana General Assembly redrawing the state’s congressional maps in 2021 after the 2020 U.S. Census – maps which the majority party touted to be fair and representative of the people.
While Braun has called this special session, there is no enforcement mechanism that requires the General Assembly to answer his call and pass new maps. The legislature may gavel in on Nov. 3 onward and then gavel back out without completing any new business. It can also take up business unrelated to Braun’s stated purpose for the session.
On the heels of House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta’s statement, State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) released the following statement in response:
“It is first important to note that we in Indiana hold close our traditions. Our tradition, and our long-held process, has been for decades that our redrawing of state and federal district maps has been held after the results of national census. This predictable process has been what Hoosiers have come to expect, and it was what they deserve.
“A sentiment often said in both the House and Senate chambers is that our state government is in no way like the politics of Washington, D.C. This is no longer true, and working families in our district are struggling to get by right now. They’re struggling to pay their energy bills. They’re struggling to pay their property tax bill. They’re struggling to pay for health care. This isn’t the time to play political games by pursuing an unprecedented redrawing of our congressional maps in the middle of the decade.
“Instead, our state government should be focused on the very real problems that Hoosier families are facing. That is what I have been doing and that is what I will continue to do, and this special session will only take me away from the very important work that I am privileged to do.
“I urge Hamilton County legislators to pose a united front and take a strong stance against redistricting. We can be patriots who are committed to our constituents and who are loyal to the importance of letting voters choose their representation. The leadership in our county is proof that there is a higher road our state can take instead of partisanship for partisanship’s sake.”
Ford calls for transparency & impartiality during impending special session
Submitted by Office of State Sen. J.D. Ford
Ford
State Senator J.D. Ford (D-Indianapolis) criticized Governor Mike Braun’s decision to call the General Assembly back for a special session to deliver two congressional seats to the White House amid ongoing struggles for Indiana families.
“It is unconscionable that Governor Braun would ignore the real issues going on around our state and instead choose to focus on partisan politics,” Ford said. “He should be focused less on his relationship with Trump and more on delivering for Hoosier families.”
Ford, who serves as the Ranking Minority Member on the Senate Elections Committee, was quick to dismiss the false premise used to justify the now imminent special session.
“We have heard how Indiana has to rig our maps to respond to states like California and Illinois,” Ford said. “We cannot forget that this all started with Trump directing Texas to break precedent and steal seats.”
Ford also stressed the need for impartial voices and transparency when it comes to looking at any new map going forward.
“If President Donald Trump is pressuring lawmakers directly, we cannot ignore a blatant conflict of interest when it comes to making decisions on future congressional maps,” Ford said. “If there were genuine concerns with our maps, we should move forward with an independent redistricting commission to address them.”
In 2021, Ford served on the committee that oversaw redistricting after the 2020 census, and recalled the praise that the current maps received at the time.
“Just four short years ago, we heard how these maps were perfect,” Ford said. “The only thing that has changed since then is our current administration has pushed through policy that is hurting families and knows that they will pay the price at the ballot box in 2026 unless they change the rules.”
Ford reiterated that he will stand alongside his constituents and caucus in pursuing every legal recourse to halt what he says is a map-rigging scheme.