Indiana voters delivered a clear message Tuesday night: defying President Trump on redistricting comes with a steep price. Five of seven state senators who bucked Trump’s push for a Republican-friendly congressional map lost their primaries to challengers endorsed by the former president, according to Decision Desk HQ.
The ousted incumbents—Travis Holdman, James Buck, Greg Walker, Dan Dernulc, and Linda Rogers—were all targeted after they voted against a redistricting plan last year that would have given the GOP a 9-0 advantage in Indiana’s House delegation. Only one anti-redistricting senator, Greg Goode, avoided a Trump-backed challenger, and another race—Spencer Deery’s—remained too close to call as of late Tuesday.
The results underscore Trump’s enduring grip on the party, even as some Republicans had questioned whether his influence was waning. “Big night for MAGA in Indiana,” Sen. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) wrote on X, as returns rolled in. Banks, who helped steer millions in spending from allied groups to oust the incumbents, framed the night as a victory for the party’s conservative wing.
Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith (R) told CNN the outcome signaled a broader shift. “It was really that battle between the old-school Republicans of the Mitch Daniels, Mike Pence, George Bush era, versus Donald Trump and the ‘America First’ era,” he said. “And Indiana—at least the Republicans—are saying, we want to be the ‘America First’ party.”
The primaries drew national attention as part of a broader redistricting war. Trump and his allies successfully pushed red states like Texas and Florida to redraw House maps last year, while Democrats responded with blue-friendly changes in California and Virginia. Indiana was a rare holdout, with Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray (R) telling CNN he had “no regrets” about opposing the plan, saying Indianans are “not going to base that decision on other states.”
The results could reignite the redistricting debate. With Trump-backed candidates likely to win their general elections in the deep-red districts this fall, some observers expect the state to revisit the issue. Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-Ind.) told Newsmax that lawmakers will “definitely reconsider” redistricting, noting the “very tough races” the targeted incumbents faced.
In Ohio, Tuesday’s primaries set up key general election matchups, including a rematch for Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), the longest-serving woman in Congress. Kaptur will face former state Rep. Derek Merrin, who won a crowded GOP primary, in what is expected to be one of the most closely watched House races this fall. Ohio also finalized contests for the Senate and governor’s mansion, as both parties gear up for a high-stakes fight for control of Congress.
The Indiana results come just days after a Supreme Court ruling weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act, potentially opening the door for more states to redraw maps before the midterms. While it is unlikely Indiana could act before 2026, the primary outcomes have already reshaped the state’s political landscape and reinforced Trump’s role as the party’s kingmaker.
For a deeper dive into the broader redistricting battles, see our earlier coverage of Trump-backed insurgents ousting six Indiana GOP senators and the Ohio Senate primary setting up a fall toss-up.
