WASHINGTON DC. -- On Tuesday during the ceremonial beginning of the 2026 legislative session, or “Organization Day,” the Indiana state Senate and House both voted to adjourn until Monday, January 5th, 2026.
ABC57’s Jordan Tolbert spoke with Democratic State Senator David Niezgodski shortly after the Senate adjourned on Tuesday.
“What we normally do on Organization Day, the beginning, the kick off every legislative session is, you know, we come in, we form, we do some perfunctory type resolutions of what you saw today, but we set the date for when we will reconvene session in January —that we did. Now, obviously, we know that there is controversy because the Governor is seeking a special session and calling a special session,” said Niezgodski.
Last month, Indiana Governor Mike Braun called a special session on redistricting, but state lawmakers decided to start the 2026 regular session early to avoid costs associated with a special session.
Last Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said it wouldn’t happen because there wasn’t enough support for it.
Governor Braun took to social media yesterday, saying on X that he was working with President Trump on redistricting efforts:
“I just had a great call with President Trump! I told him I remain committed to standing with him on the critical issue of passing fair maps in Indiana to ensure the MAGA agenda is successful in Congress. Indiana’s State Legislators must show up for work and take a public vote for fair maps to counter the gerrymandering in California and Illinois. But the Indiana State Senate is hiding behind closed doors and refusing to even bring redistricting to a vote. Hoosiers deserve to know where their legislators stand and expect them to show up for work, not walk out and hide in the dark.”
President Trump, posting on social media Tuesday, saying he’s still working with Governor Braun and other Indiana republicans to pick up two congressional seats:
“I am working with Governor Mike Braun and other Indiana Republicans, on picking up two Republican Congressional seats. The Governor, a good man, must produce on this, or he will be the only Governor, Republican or Democrat, who didn't. I won Indiana in a landslide, the most votes ever gotten in the State - Such an HONOR! A RINO State Senator, Rodric Bray, who doesn't care about keeping the Majority in the House in D.C., is the primary problem. Soon, he will have a Primary Problem, as will any other politician who supports him in this stupidity. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT”
According to a spokesperson for house minority leader Phil GiaQuinta (D-Fort Wayne), Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston told House members to keep calendars open during the first two weeks of December for a special session. In that same release today, GiaQuinta said House Democrats are ‘cautiously optimistic that redistricting has no path forward.’
Governor Braun also released a statement after both chambers adjourned on Tuesday:
“I am glad to see Speaker Huston and House Republicans publicly endorse the need for fair maps. We look forward to them returning in December to vote to advance them. Momentum is building and it’s time now for our state senators to commit to showing up for work.
“Unfortunately, Sen. Rod Bray was forced to partner with DEMOCRATS to block an effort by the growing number of America First Senators who wanted to have a vote on passing fair maps. Now I am left with no choice other than to explore all options at my disposal to compel the State Senate to show up and vote.
“I will support President Trump’s efforts to recruit, endorse, and finance primary challengers for Indiana’s senators who refuse to support fair maps.”
Sen. Niezgodski says they will convene on that January 5th date for their regularly scheduled short session.
“I don't believe it's the legislature saying, No, it's the legislature—They have members that have families. They have members that are away. There could be a whole host of things and it is sometimes very, very difficult to try to say, Okay, let's just be here right on this date, and now we go to work. So there has to be a formation of that. And you have to take in everyone's opinions, which I believe that the majority members took a long time doing. So ultimately, I don't think it's saying no, it's saying that we're going to move forward as planned for January 5, and we'll address the things that Hoosiers value most, and the Hoosiers that are seeking relief from most, and I think that's just really what it amounts to,” said Niezgodski.
ABC57 asked if a vote on redistricting during the regular session was a possibility.
“I don't think it's an impossibility. I think it would make things a lot more difficult. I don't know how you could do that within the time frames. So I think that would throw things into much greater controversy if that were to take place. So I guess it's my hope that Indiana will maintain its individuality and shine forth as the Hoosier State that it is,” said Niezgodski
As far as mid-decade redistricting, Niezgodski says it happens every ten years, that’s the way he’s seen it happen, and it serves us very well.
Chad Kinsella, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Political Science at Ball State University, explains what's happening in the State Senate now.
“Ultimately, what has to happen is there would be a new set of maps proposed, and it would simply have to be voted on by the Senate and then moved to the House and then passed on to the Governor. So, it wouldn't take much. But again, I think one of the things that's happened in Indiana is, particularly in the State Senate, there hasn't been a whole lot of interest in moving this. And again, you can see that is obvious by, you know, the lack of movement with the special session,” said Kinsella.
He explains why taking on redistricting in the regular session would be difficult.
“If you meet in that regular session and try to redraw the maps, there's a lot of work that has to be done behind the scenes in order for the right people to be on the right ballot and the right counties. There's a lot that would have to be done, and it would be very, very difficult,” said Kinsella.
He says this issue will inevitably be discussed at some point though, in the regular session.
“I think the Indiana effort is– I would imagine it's probably done for at this point. Of course, I've said that at once already, and they called a special session, so we'll see,” said Kinsella.
Yesterday, State Sen. Blake Doriot (R-Goshen) shared the below statement on redistricting:
"I have long been a Trump supporter, and I want President Trump to continue to be successful with a Republican-led House so he can continue fixing our woke colleges, fighting illegal immigration and crime, and encouraging us to speak about our great nation and be proud of who we are as Americans – not apologize for it.
"In Indiana, redrawing our Congressional maps mid-cycle is not the best way for us to do that. Spreading out all of the Democrats in Lake and Marion counties across the rest of our districts will in no way guarantee a 9-0 map. There are no well-established Republican candidates working those hypothetical districts – they haven't walked a parade, haven't raised a dollar, and there will likely first be a primary race before we even get to the General Election.
"We should be focusing on flipping our existing 1st Congressional District as the way to give Trump another Republican in Congress. That district has been trending toward Republicans for years, and most recently, Hoosiers elected a Republican to a Lake County state senate district that had previously been held by Democrats for 100 years.
"I'm a proud Trump supporter, and I believe fighting for a Republican in CD 1 is the best way to move forward."