Indiana Democrats pushback against Braun’s mid-decade redistricting special session; GiaQuinta, Pryor, Hamilton, Miller, Andrade and DeLaney urge Hoosiers to speak out

Staff report

INDIANAPOLIS — October 27, 2025

Indiana House Democratic leaders on Monday blasted Gov. Mike Braun’s proclamation calling lawmakers into a Nov. 3 special session to redraw the state’s nine congressional districts, calling the move unprecedented mid-decade map-making that voters do not want and urging Hoosiers to contact their legislators.

House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne) said Hoosiers are focused on rising costs, not revisiting maps the legislature approved in 2021, and he urged public hearings if Republicans proceed. House Democratic Caucus Chair Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) noted there is no requirement for the General Assembly to pass new maps simply because the governor called a session; lawmakers could gavel in and out or take up other business.

House Democratic Floor Leader Cherrish Pryor (D-Indianapolis) said the session aims to “further gerrymander already gerrymandered congressional maps,” arguing that roughly 40% of voters who don’t back Republicans would be marginalized. Rep. Kyle Miller (D-Fort Wayne) said his office has received no constituent requests to redraw maps and urged lawmakers to “put people above politics,” focusing on lowering health-care costs and expanding child care access. Rep. Mike Andrade (D-Munster) called the move “a taxpayer-funded special session” and vowed to “stand tall” for his district.

Adding to the chorus Monday afternoon, Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) said he’d “be happy to have a special session to help the people we were elected to serve — Hoosier taxpayers — not to play a political game,” adding, “It seems the Governor and I have a different understanding of who we are beholden to.”

Democrats emphasized that, even with Braun’s proclamation, the legislature is not obligated to enact new maps next week and urged Hoosiers to contact their representatives before the General Assembly convenes Nov. 3. Republicans currently hold seven of Indiana’s nine U.S. House seats under maps approved in October 2021 after the U.S. Census.

Editor’s note: Quotes and statements are from a Democratic leadership media availability and emailed news releases on Oct. 27, 2025.

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