President Donald Trump got his retribution Tuesday night in Indiana against the state senators who defied his redistricting demands last year.
It couldn’t have come at a better time for him.
At least five of the seven Republican state senators facing Trump-backed challengers lost renomination, including state Sen. Travis Holdman, the chair of the Indiana GOP Senate caucus.
But at least one of those Republicans who voted against the redistricting proposal in December, state Sen. Greg Goode, won his primary. Another, state Sen. Spencer Deery, was in a race too close to call as of late Tuesday night.
Ever since a majority of Indiana state senators rejected redistricting, Trump has vowed to make them pay at the ballot box.
Trump’s success on Tuesday could have real implications for southern states that are now considering whether to redistrict after the Supreme Court gutted Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act last month. Indiana proved there are serious consequences for any Republican state legislators resisting Trump on redistricting.
Meanwhile, Tennessee lawmakers are in the middle of a three-day special session to determine whether to draw out Democratic Rep. Steve Cohen in Memphis. And legislators in South Carolina could also erase the district of Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn. Alabama and Louisiana Republicans are working on redistricting plans, too.
GOP leaders in the South Carolina legislature said they’re unsure they have the requisite votes for a new map. But the results in Indiana may nudge some of those lawmakers toward redistricting.
Ohio primaries. Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) will get a rematch with the man she beat last cycle. Republican Derek Merrin won over a crowded primary field for the nomination.
A few noteworthy things about this race: redistricting put Kaptur in a slightly tougher seat this cycle. And a third-party candidate helped Kaptur likely prevail in 2024. But the environment is looking much better for Democrats in 2026.
In southwestern Ohio, Republican Eric Conroy will take on Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman. And Democrat Brian Poindexter will face Rep. Max Miller (R-Ohio).
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