INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Statehouse was busy on Thursday with Secret Service and State Police for Vice President JD Vance's visit.
Vance met with Governor Mike Braun to discuss several topics, including the redrawing of congressional district maps.
Vance entered and exited the building through the basement and made it clear he did not want to interact with the media, according to State Police.
Following the meeting, Governor Braun confirmed that the two listened and discussed a wide array of topics, including redistricting. The Braun administration and State leadership have remained tight-lipped about what other topics were discussed in the closed-door meeting.
Sources have told WRTV that following the meeting, Vance and Braun are appearing at a GOP fundraiser. The only details released about the fundraiser is that it is located downtown.
No public appearances have been scheduled for either the Vice President or the Governor.
Several Hoosiers appeared at the Statehouse to voice their opposition to the visit from the Vice President.
"I'm here today because my voice matters. The votes and voices of all these people in this room, they matter and my children's voices matter and I'm so sick of people saying that they don't," said Lindsay Zehren.
"I think it reflects a failure of the Republicans to have a message that would resonate with voters enough that they have to redistrict to get more of their people into office," added Bill Paraskevas.
House Speaker Todd Huston issued this statement following the meeting:
"I appreciate the opportunity to meet with Vice President Vance today and share many of the successes we're experiencing in Indiana. We've been proud to work alongside the Trump Administration on several issues to strengthen our state and nation. We had a meaningful discussion, heard the vice president's perspective on a number of topics, and will continue conversations as we work to advance Indiana and deliver results for Hoosiers."
The redistricting push started with Texas. Democratic lawmakers have fled the state to prevent republicans from moving forward.
In the state of Indiana, two of the nine congressional seats are held by democrats. Congressman Andre Carson, who represents the Indianapolis area, and Frank Mrvan, who represents the Lake County area. Both congressmen spoke following the visit.
Frank Mrvan didn't hold back on his message to Governor Braun.
"No matter if Governor Braun bends the knee to Vance and Trump, it isn't going to increase his prospects of being a president of the United States," Congressman Mrvan said.
During Congressman Carson's speech, he highlighted the Voting Rights Act and how he believes redrawing the maps, often called gerrymandering, is a threat to democracy and that it would silence the voices of minority communities. He hopes that the Governor will do what's best for constituents and not the White House.
"It's one thing to work cooperatively with the administration on issues like criminal justice, national security, but to allow a sitting president to tell Hoosiers what to do, that is not the Hoosier spirit," Congressman Carson said.
The congressman said they do plan on putting up a fight, but didn't go into details about how they plan to do so. They hinted that legal action might be an option. Both have vowed to run for re-election regardless of what happens.
If there is a special session, it would be funded through taxpayer dollars. State Senator Shelli Yoder says that during the 2022 special session, where abortion access was restricted further, it cost taxpayers around $250,000. Right now, the state of Indiana is having budgetary constraints. She says now is not the time.
"At a time when there has been unprecedented squeeze on Hoosiers' pocketbooks, it is unconscionable to think that we are going to add to some people's pocketbooks by calling in a special session to further rig Indiana," Yoder said.
Leadership in the state has yet to say if a special session will be called.
Lt. Governor Micah Beckwith posted on X that he supports the redistricting.
🇺🇸 A big THANK YOU to Vice President @JDVance for visiting the Hoosier State today and standing shoulder to shoulder with Indiana lawmakers! Your bold leadership and unwavering support for President Trump’s mission to expand the conservative majority in Congress is exactly what…
— TheMicahBeckwith (@MicahBeckwith) August 7, 2025
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