Ben Thorpe

Yeah, the state has seven Republican members of the House and two Democrats now.

This would have redrawn the lines to help flip those last two seats.

Supporters said it was legal, even though redistricting is normally done after the census at the start of the decade.

They said Democratic-led states have gerrymandered like that in the past, but opponents said it would have divided up minority voters here in Indianapolis and put them in districts where their votes would be outnumbered by suburban and rural voters, basically diluting their votes.

So far, Republicans have been able to tilt a couple more seats their way than Democrats.

Texas redistricted to help the GOP win maybe five seats there.

Missouri and North Carolina each did one seat.

California Democrats have countered by tilting five seats their way.

But the question now is whether Republicans in other states where this is being considered, like Florida and Kansas, will go ahead with redistricting.

Thank you so much.

The map was intended to hand Republicans two additional congressional seats out of Indiana, part of a national redistricting push to keep Republican control of the U.S.

House.

But Indiana senators voted no, arguing that it would be bad for the country as a whole.

Republican State Senator Spencer Deary said his vote was to uphold conservative principles.

Republican Mike Young expressed his disappointment.

We've cost our nation.

We don't know how much, but we've cost our nation.

Senate leaders say redistricting cannot be brought up again in Indiana before midterms.

For NPR News, I'm Ben Thorpe in Indianapolis.

The Indiana House has already passed the redistricting plan that could help Republicans win two seats in Washington now held by Democrats.