This Isn’t About Fair Maps — It’s About Power
Indiana Redistricting Hearing Exposes The Truth
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The Indiana Statehouse buzzed with tension yesterday as lawmakers convened to debate House Bill 1032 — a bill to redraw Indiana’s congressional districts mid-decade, five years before the next census. What unfolded wasn’t a policy discussion, it was a raw, unvarnished clash over who gets to decide who represents Hoosiers, and who gets to be represented at all.
This redistricting isn’t about fixing broken maps. It’s about consolidating power and it’s happening with no transparency, no public input, and no regard for the communities being torn apart.
GOP Rep. Smaltz: ➡ “We Wrote These Maps for a Political Advantage”
Let’s start with the most honest — and most damning — comment of the day.
GOP Rep. Smaltz, the bill’s author, didn’t mince words. When asked by Representative Cherrish Pryor why Indiana needed to redraw its maps now after approving “fair, transparent” maps just four years ago, he replied:
“We wrote these maps for a political advantage for Republicans.”
🚫 He admitted he didn’t consider racial demographics.
🚫 He didn’t consider communities of interest.
🚫 He didn’t consider compactness.
🚫 He didn’t consider whether the maps comply with the Voting Rights Act.
“I think the courts will determine if that if it complies or not,” he said, when pressed on the legality of the maps.
His answer? “We’re on firm constitutional footing.” His evidence? A 2019 Supreme Court case, Rucho v. Common Cause, which says states can draw maps for partisan gain as long as they don’t violate the Voting Rights Act. But Smaltz admitted he didn’t even look at racial data to ensure the maps didn’t dilute minority votes. 🤦🏻♀️
When asked if he was okay with racially gerrymandered maps, he replied:
“We really didn’t look at that data. I looked at political advantage, and that’s how these maps are drawn.”
This is not just gerrymandering it’s a political purge orchestrated to erase Democratic voters from the map and install Republican majorities because Trump demands it.
It’s a direct assault on democracy: a top-down power grab that sidelines the will of the people, replaces fair representation with partisan control, and turns electoral maps into instruments of authoritarianism.
When a president dictates redistricting to lock in power, democracy doesn’t just bend, it breaks. And we must act to save our democracy.
Amy Courtney of MADVoters: “This Is a Rigged Game”
Amy Courtney, executive director of MADVoters, a grassroots, nonpartisan organization, brought the voice of 200+ Hoosiers to the hearing — Republicans, Democrats, and independents alike.
Her message was clear: Hoosiers don’t want this.
“Mark V, a Republican from Huntington, urges lawmakers to ‘Vote no on early or midterm redistricting,’ warning this will upend our state’s sovereignty.
Lisa L, a lifelong Republican from Charlestown, says, ‘I absolutely do not support redistricting and will not vote for anyone who participates in cheating.’”
Courtney’s organization collected dozens of testimonials from Hoosiers across the state from Huntington to Kokomo, from Nashville to Shelbyville, all saying the same thing: This is a rigged game.
“Caleb C of Kokomo, who says he has been a Republican for most of his life, writes that rushed mid cycle redistricting undermines trust, and that changing the rules midway through the decade, sends a message that voters don’t matter, and maps can be manipulated at will.”
Courtney’s point? This isn’t about policy. It’s about power. And Hoosiers, regardless of party are tired of being treated as pawns in a national political game.
Angela Carr Klitzsch : “This Isn’t About Maps — It’s About Who Gets to Be Heard”
Angela Carr Klitzsch, CEO of Women for Change, a nonpartisan, pro-democracy organization, delivered a powerful, emotional testimony that cut through the partisan noise.
“We believe Hoosiers deserve a government that reflects our communities and earns their trust. Our democracy works best when the rules are clear, fair, transparent just like the sports we proudly host and celebrate.”
Klitzsch didn’t just talk about maps, she talked about communities. The nucleus of any thriving democracy.
“These aren’t partisan issues. These are Indiana issues. A transparent redistricting process includes clear, consistent criteria for map drawing. Public access to maps and the data behind them. A public opportunity for residents, businesses, and educators and families to weigh in. And plain language explanations of how final maps were chosen.”
She reminded lawmakers that businesses rely on predictability and that Indiana’s opaque, political processes create uncertainty.
“Gerrymandered systems increase polarization, delay critical economic policy, and undermine Indiana’s competitiveness. Simply put: unstable governance threatens business growth as much as bad tax policy.”
Klitzsch’s final plea?
“Putting aside the specific call out that we heard earlier today about these maps being drawn for political advantage for a legislator that prides itself on bolstering the economy of Indiana, you cannot claim to support economic growth while engaging in a process that undermines trust, creates uncertainty, and divides communities.” - BAM!!!
The Real Impact: Who Loses When Maps Are Redrawn for Power
The most devastating testimony came from Rep. Robin Shackleford, who represents Marion County.
“In the current 7th Congressional District, Blacks make up 32% of the district. Under House Bill 1032, that representation will decrease to 10% and be spread thinly across the other districts. Thereby diluting our power and representation.”
She called it a “Hitler-type plan of control” not because of intent, but because of impact.
“These maps crack apart historic black neighborhoods, weakening our voting power and silencing the voices of the very people who are already fighting the hardest for economic stability, safer streets, better schools, and access to affordable healthcare.”
Nick Roberts, Indianapolis City-County Councilor from District 4, testified that his district and 15 of the 25 council districts in Indianapolis — will be split across multiple congressional districts, some stretching all the way to the Ohio River. 🤦🏻♀️
“The people in my district or others who need to go to their Congressperson’s office to talk about accessing Social Security or Medicare, may have to drive maybe an hour, an hour and a half to reach out to that Congressperson’s office.”
And it’s not just about distance - its about relationships.
“The chamber of Commerce, who’s built a relationship with their legislator, who now might have a new person who sits two hours away, may never even have heard of that county or that town represent.”
Why This Matters for Labor, Local Leaders, Candidates & Grassroots Organizations
It’s about how government is meant to serve the people.
"The redistricting doesn’t just affect voters, it devastates communities, organizations, and institutions that rely on cohesive representation to advocate for their interests” - Brandon Dothager
Lake and Porter County unions lose their congressional anchor.
These counties, home to major industrial and labor hubs, will be split into districts anchored in rural areas diluting their voice on critical labor issues like workplace safety, fair wages, and collective bargaining.Indianapolis gets carved into four rural-anchored districts with no unified representation.
The state’s largest city, a diverse urban center, will be fragmented into districts that prioritize rural interests making it nearly impossible for urban voters to elect representatives who understand their unique challenges, from public transit to affordable housing.Higher-education communities (Terre Haute, Lafayette, South Bend) lose aligned representation.
Universities and colleges in these cities will be split across multiple districts, weakening their ability to advocate for research funding, student aid, and workforce development programs that benefit their students and local economies.The precedent of mid-decade redistricting guarantees this fight will repeat every Congress unless stopped now.
If this bill passes, it sets a dangerous precedent: maps can be redrawn whenever the majority party feels threatened. This isn’t about fairness — it’s about ensuring permanent power, no matter the cost to democracy.
The Path Forward: How to Stop This Power Grab
The bill is moving forward but the fight is far from over. The bill passed out of committee 8-5. The Bill also needs to pass in the Senate.
The public has spoken. Hoosiers have made it clear: They don’t want this.
And we are not going to let it happen without a fight.
Democrats Need 16 Republican NO Votes in the Indiana Senate to Block the House’s Mid-Decade Congressional Gerrymander
We already have 10 firm NO votes.
We therefore need 6 of the 15 remaining undeclared Republicans to hold the line.
This is not just a Hoosier issue it’s about protecting democracy. Every American deserves a representative who understands their community, fights for their interests, and is accountable to them not to a political party or a national agenda.
Call to Action:
🔗 Contact your representative and senator. Tell them you oppose HB 1032.
Share this story. Let your friends and family know what’s happening.
Get involved. Join a local organization —> MadAD Voters, Women for Change, Common Cause and help fight for fair maps.
This isn’t just about Indiana. It’s about democracy.
And we’re not going to let it be taken away.
Sources:
Testimony from GOP Rep. Smaltz, Amy Courtney, Angela Carr Klitzsch, Rep. Robin Shackleford, Nick Roberts, and others.
MADVoters, Women for Change, Common Cause, and ACLU of Indiana.
Indiana Statehouse hearing on House Bill 1032, December 2, 2025.