In a striking departure from party lines, former Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels — a longtime voice in Republican politics — has publicly rebuked a proposal backed by President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance to redraw congressional maps in Indiana mid‑decade.
Texas is currently undertaking a redistricting process aimed at creating up to five additional Republican‑friendly congressional districts. In response, California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) has announced he will retaliate by initiating his own redistricting plan, likely via a special election, if Texas proceeds with its changes.
Daniels told Politico, according to a report published Thursday, that he didn’t "see the point" of redistricting in Indiana. He added, “It would just be wrong… People there have a right to pick the person they want.”
READ MORE: 'What could possibly go wrong?' Outrage as Trump admin recruits teens to join 'the Gestapo'
Daniels, now at the helm of Purdue University, criticized the timing and partisan tone of the effort. “By spouting off in that way, he turns it into this partisan wrangle that we now see,” he said of Trump.
“My sense is you’d have to torture the lines to eke out another one somehow,” he added. “It would be so overtly partisan that I would hope that they would abstain from it.”
Daniels did, however, point out what he views as hypocrisy on the other side: “It’s high season for hypocrisy,” he said, saying that Democrats have also engaged in gerrymandering.
Daniels' remarks come as Vance is touring Republican strongholds — including Indiana — to muster support for off‑cycle redistricting aimed at bolstering GOP power in the 2026 midterms.
READ MORE:The one big reason why most Republicans are acting irrationally — without consequences
A number of Republicans, including two congressmen, have opposed this attempt by the party.
Earlier this week, Rep. Kevin Kiley (R‑Calif.) proposed a bill that would ban mid-decade redistricting, effectively locking in congressional maps until the next decennial censes—an effort aimed squarely at preempting GOP-led redraws in places like Texas
Rep. Mike Lawler (R‑N.Y.) also broke from the trend by proposing legislation to outlaw partisan gerrymandering nationwide, signaling bipartisan concern over redistricting abuses.