INDIANAPOLIS — Governor Mike Braun announced Monday he will sign a proclamation calling a special legislative session beginning November 3, 2025, to tackle two key issues: redrawing Indiana's congressional district boundaries and aligning state tax codes with new federal provisions.
“I am calling a special legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair," Braun stated. "I am also asking the legislature to conform Indiana's tax code with new federal tax provisions to ensure stability and certainty for taxpayers and tax preparers for 2026 filings.”
In Indiana, the governor has sole authority to call a special session. The General Assembly must act within a set time limit of no more than 30 session days or 40 calendar days, whichever comes first.
It was in August of 2025 that Texas made a move to redraw their state's congressional maps. Responses had emerged in other parts of the U.S., including Indiana.
Currently, Republicans hold seven of Indiana's nine congressional seats, with Democrats holding the other two. The typical redistricting process occurs every 10 years following the U.S. Census. The last congressional redistricting in Indiana happened in 2021.
Current Congressional Representation:
Indiana's two Democratic-held seats include:
- District 1: Covering northwest Indiana cities including Gary, Hammond, Portage, Merrillville, and Crown Point. Representative Frank Mrvan has held the seat since 2021, winning his 2024 reelection with 53% of the vote.
- District 7: Encompassing most of Indianapolis, represented by Andre Carson since 2007. Carson, the longest-serving current Hoosier in the House, secured 68% of the vote in 2024.
Mounting Controversy:
The redistricting initiative has generated significant pushback, including organized protests, petition drives, and legal challenges from various groups opposing the proposed changes.
The special session will allow Republican lawmakers to potentially redraw district boundaries outside the normal redistricting cycle, raising questions about partisan gerrymandering and fair representation.
Lawmakers will have until mid-December to address both the congressional redistricting proposal and the federal tax compliance measures before the session expires.
View our most recent stories detailing the redistricting debate here.
