Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, unsuccessfully presented a proposal in the Indiana House Tuesday that would replace the redistricting language in HB 1032 with provisions addressing cost-of-living issues. (Photo/Sydney Byerly)
By TheStatehouseFile.com and The Indiana Citizen December 2, 2025
After months of pushing their Republican colleagues to abandon redistricting and address cost-of-living issues for Hoosiers, Democratic lawmakers in the Indiana House attempted on Tuesday to change the focus of the early session to the economy.
Rep. Carolyn Jackson, ranking minority member of the House Elections and Apportionment Committee, offered a minority committee report that would have replaced the redistricting language in House Bill 1032 with provisions aimed at easing the stress on family budgets. The Hammond Democrat urged lawmakers to pass the report, saying families’ budgets are in a “real state of emergency.”
After months of pushing their Republican colleagues to abandon redistricting and address cost-of-living issues for Hoosiers, Democratic lawmakers in the Indiana House attempted on Tuesday to change the focus of the early session to the economy.
Rep. Carolyn Jackson, ranking minority member of the House Elections and Apportionment Committee, offered a minority committee report that would have replaced the redistricting language in House Bill 1032 with provisions aimed at easing the stress on family budgets. The Hammond Democrat urged lawmakers to pass the report, saying families’ budgets are in a “real state of emergency.”
Rep. Alex Zimmerman, R-North Vernon, objected to the minority committee report. He argued presenting it to the lower chamber violated House Committee Rule 118.1, which prohibits certain amendments to House bills. Rep. Blake Johnson, D-Indianapolis, countered the report was not an amendment but a recommendation.
After a brief recess, Jackson was able to offer her report.
While Jackson was presenting the minority committee report, many Republican lawmakers did not appear to be paying attention. Several were talking to each other or looking at their phones, and many had their backs to Jackson.
Rep. Alex Zimmerman, R-North Vernon, made a point of order during the Indiana House session Tuesday that the minority committee report violated House Committee Rule 118.1. (Photo/Sydney Byerly)
After Tuesday’s House session adjourned, several Republican lawmakers exited the chamber, but some openly opposed to redistricting lingered and talked with each other.
Rep. Tim Yocum, R-Clinton, who shortly before the House convened joined Democrats on the House Elections and Apportionment Committee in voting against sending HB 1032 to the floor, talked with Rep. Becky Cash, R-Zionsville, who stated her opposition to redistricting in August. Later Cash was seen talking to Rep. Wendy McNamara, R-Evansville, who has not publicly stated her stance on redrawing the map mid-cycle.
Yocum did not take any questions from the media about his vote in the House committee. Following the adjournment of the full House, a spokesperson with Yocum told TheStatehouseFile.com, “He has no further comment. His vote speaks for itself.”
Cash was an early opponent of redistricting. Shortly after Vice President JD Vance visited with Gov. Mike Braun and Republican leaders, Cash posted on Facebook, “I do not support redistricting and do not know of any reason why Indiana should redistrict.”
Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, has also stated his opposition to the mid-decade redistricting effort. He said he has been through two redistricting sessions since his election in 2008, and he believes that is the least transparent thing that the Indiana legislature does.
“In the 2021 redistricting cycle, there were nine public hearings around the state prior to the legislature convening to draw the maps,” Clere told TheStatehouseFile.com. “There’s been a complete lack of public transparency.
“This is all about partisan politics, and the desire to maintain a Republican majority in the U.S House.”
The House is scheduled to reconvene at 1:30 p.m. Thursday for a second reading of HB 1032.
Governor supports new map, condemns threats
A day after the Indiana House started the early session to consider redistricting, Gov. Mike Braun expressed his support for the redrawn congressional district map and said Indiana should help with “evening the playing field across the country.”
Braun spoke briefly about the maps following an appearance in Carmel on Tuesday morning. The governor made some remarks at the kick-off event for Light the World Giving Machine, a vending machine that enables Hoosiers to donate clothing, shelter, health care and other items to people in need.
“The maps, everybody I think expected them to come, especially if you’re going to take a vote on it, and now we see it,” Braun said after the event. “I think the case (for the new maps) has been made gradually. Obviously, you’re (always) going to have folks against something like that. But to me, it’s a question of evening the playing field across the country and our state, doing our share of it.”
A group of lawmakers huddled with House Speaker Todd Huston, R-Fishers, during a brief recess of Tuesday’s House session to discuss the minority party’s attempt to overhaul the redistricting bill. (Photo/Sydney Byerly)
Also, Braun condemned the threats that some state lawmakers have been receiving and was confident those responsible will be prosecuted.
“When it comes to swatting or resorting to violence, from whatever perspective you’re coming from, that’s going to be ferreted out,” Braun said. “We’ll find out who did it, and they’re going to be held accountable. There’s no room for that in discourse on any issue when it comes to political discussion.”
This week, Republican Sens. Mike Bohacek of Michigan Shores and Ron Alting of Lafayette said they and their families have received threats of violence. No one was hurt in either incident and law enforcement is still investigating, according to the lawmakers.
Bohacek said he and his family received threats on Nov. 28 that a bomb had been placed at their home. He then thanked the Long Beach Police Department, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police for their quick response and assistance.
“This recent pattern of threatening behavior and intimidation attempts are not only concerning, but also illegal,” Bohacek said in a statement. “I hope to see justice for this type of behavior.”
Alting said the Tippecanoe County Sheriff informed him Tuesday morning that an anonymous email claimed two pipe bombs had been placed at his former home in north Lafayette. The lawmaker described the threat as causing fear and disrupting the lives of innocent people.
Alting indicated the owners of his former residence were victimized by the threat.
“I was especially troubled that the people directly impacted were a local pastor, his wife and their high school age son,” Alting said in a statement. “They have no role in politics, yet they were forced to deal with the anxiety and disruption caused by someone acting anonymously.”
Alting also expressed frustration at the rising number of threats toward lawmakers.
“Hoosiers can disagree strongly on policy, but we cannot allow threatening hoaxes or fear-based intimidation to become part of our public life,” Alting said.
Republican Sens. Kyle Walker of Lawrence, Greg Goode of Terre Haute, Spencer Deery of West Lafayette, Dan Dernulc of Highland, Rick Niemeyer of Lowell, Jean Leising of Oldenburg, Lind Rogers of Granger and Any Zay of Huntington have all reported receiving threats related to the redistricting debate.
Rep. Smaltz told FOX 59 News that he has received a threat. He said he was threatened that “his family would be killed in front of him, and that he would be killed thereafter,” according to FOX 59 News.
Braun also has previously revealed that he and his family have been threatened.
TheStatehouseFile.com reporters Anna Cecil, Avery Tays and Chloe White and The Indiana Citizen reporters Sydney Byerly and Marilyn Odendahl contributed to this report.
