Buttigieg Hits Indiana GOP Over Mid-Decade Redistricting, Blames Trump

INDIANAPOLIS — Former U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg rallied Democrats at the Indiana Statehouse on Thursday, directly accusing state Republicans of manipulating congressional district maps under pressure from President Donald Trump.

Buttigieg, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, argued the proposed mid-decade redistricting plan is designed to boost Republicans in next year's midterm elections.

"We are here because Indiana Republicans are being pressured by Washington Republicans to do something that they know in their hearts is wrong," he said. "They are being pressured to change the rules so that voters don't have a say anymore."

Republicans currently hold seven of Indiana's nine congressional districts. Democrats hold two — one covering the eastern suburbs of Chicago, the other covering most of the greater Indianapolis area. Indiana Republicans have openly discussed plans to carve up those Democratic-leaning districts further.

Sen. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, laid out the goal plainly last week. "The least that we can do is go through a legal process and redistrict Indiana into a nine to zero map," Banks said.

Buttigieg called mid-decade redistricting "cheating" and drew a contrast with past Republican allegations of voter fraud, arguing the party is now manipulating results in the open rather than claiming ballots or machines were altered.

"I'm talking about a form of cheating that is happening right out in the open," he said. "They're admitting it out loud that they don't have to do that to manipulate the results of an election."

He vowed that Democrats would hold Indiana Republicans "politically accountable" if they move forward. His Win the Era PAC sent fundraising texts criticizing Trump for pressuring states to redraw congressional maps.

Buttigieg's appearance in Indiana is part of a broader Democratic effort to counter Republican redistricting moves. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has pushed to redraw his state's map in response to Republican actions in Texas. Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker aided Texas Democratic lawmakers who left the state to delay a Republican redistricting push. Both Newsom and Pritzker are considered possible 2028 Democratic presidential candidates.

Buttigieg, a potential 2028 presidential candidate, argued the proposed mid-decade redistricting plan is designed to boost Republicans in next year's midterm elections.

Sen. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican, laid out the goal plainly last week. "The least that we can do is go through a legal process and redistrict Indiana into a nine to zero map," Banks said.

"I'm talking about a form of cheating that is happening right out in the open," he said. "They're admitting it out loud that they don't have to do that to manipulate the results of an election."