By Jenna SundelShareNewsweek is a Trust Project memberIndiana state Senator Michael Bohacek, a Republican, said on Friday that he will vote against a redistricting plan supported by President Donald Trump, citing his “insulting and derogatory references” after he called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, a Democrat, "seriously retarded" in a Truth Social post.
Why It Matters
Earlier this month, Trump criticized two Indiana Republican lawmakers in a post on Truth Social after the state Senate declined to move forward with a redistricting plan that the president said could have delivered two additional congressional seats to the Republican Party amid next year's midterm elections.
Redistricting efforts have played a significant role in political control at the state and national levels, with recent moves in Democratic-led states like California which saw voters pass a redistricting ballot measure, while some Republican-led efforts have faced internal disputes and legal challenges.
What To Know
In a Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump called Walz “seriously retarded,” a term widely regarded as derogatory toward people with intellectual disabilities, after the president wrote that “hundreds of thousands” of Somali refugees were “taking over” Minnesota and suggested Somali gangs were "roving the streets."
The governor then responded by calling for the release of Trump's recent MRI results, drawing renewed attention to questions surrounding the 79-year-old commander-in-chief's health.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters earlier this month that Trump received an MRI in October “as part of his routine physical examination.”
“The full results were reviewed by attending radiologists and consultant and all agreed that President Trump remains in exceptional physical health,” she said.
After Trump's Truth Social post about Walz, Bohacek wrote on Friday that he has been an “unapologetic advocate” for people with intellectual disabilities since the birth of his second daughter who has Down syndrome.
"This is not the first time our president has used these insulting and derogatory references and his choices of words have consequences," Bohacek said. "I will be voting NO on redistricting, perhaps he can use the next 10 months to convince voters that his policies and behavior deserve a congressional majority."
Earlier this month, Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray said in a statement that the Senate will not reconvene in December and there were “not enough votes” to move forward with drawing the state’s congressional maps.
However, Bray said in a Tuesday statement that "the issue of redrawing Indiana's congressional maps mid-cycle has received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state," adding that "to resolve this issue, the Senate intends to reconvene as part of the regular 2026 session on Dec. 8 and make a final decision that week on any redistricting proposal sent from the House.”
Trump then reacted on Truth Social and wrote that he was "glad to hear the Indiana House is stepping up to do the right thing, and I hope the Senate finds the Votes." However, he added that if the measure does not obtain enough votes, he will partner with “incredibly powerful MAGA Grassroots Republicans elect STRONG Republicans who are ready to do what is needed to protect our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
...What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social on Tuesday, in part: “It looks like the Indiana Senate Republicans will be coming back in two weeks to take up Redistricting, a very important initiative to balance out the Democrats’ endless 'Sue to Blue' and Census rigging strategy that has stolen seats from Republicans, and given them to Democrats who would not have them if they played fairly...Republicans must do what is necessary to stop the destruction of our Country by these people who hate America, and are so ungrateful for the opportunities our Nation has given them. Our Country and Democracy is special, and we must do everything we possibly can to defend it from the Far Left infiltrators who want to destroy it. I am glad to hear the Indiana House is stepping up to do the right thing, and I hope the Senate finds the Votes. If they do, I will make sure that all of those people supporting me win their Primaries, and go on to Greatness but, if they don’t, I will partner with the incredibly powerful MAGA Grassroots Republicans to elect STRONG Republicans who are ready to do what is needed to protect our Country and, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!"
Indiana Governor Mike Braun, a Republican, wrote on X on November 14: "I called for our legislators to convene to ensure Hoosiers’ voices in Washington, DC are not diluted by the democrats’ gerrymandering. Our state senators need to do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps. Hoosiers deserve to know where their elected officials stand on important issues.
What Happens Next?
Speaker of the Indiana House of Representatives Todd Huston said the Indiana House of Representatives will consider the redistricting proposal after the legislative body reconvenes on Monday.
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