Sen. Deery joins chorus of those saying ‘no’ to redistricting idea
West Lafayette Republican among a growing chorus in GOP caucus against plan pitched by Vice President JD Vance last week at the Statehouse.
Support for this edition comes from the Wabash River Cycle Club, presenting the Wabash River Ride. “Ride as much or as little, or as long or as short, as you feel. But ride.” The Wabash River Ride offers cyclists from all walks of life an opportunity to choose their own adventure on Aug. 23. This cycling event has paved and multi-surface 32-, 62- and 100-mile routes for both road and gravel cyclists, along with a 16-mile “Ride for All.” The routes correspond with well-stocked aid stations and there is a finisher’s meal at the end. Find more information at www.wabashriverride.com
This and that on a Thursday morning …
SEN. DEERY SAYS ‘NO’ TO REDISTRICTING IDEA: State Sen. Spencer Deery, a West Lafayette Republican, on Wednesday joined what seemed to be a rising chorus from the GOP caucus not keen on a mid-decade redistricting of U.S. House districts, as pitched to Statehouse leaders last week by Vice President JD Vance.
Deery said he hoped to avoid the cost of a special session of the General Assembly on a plan that “would clearly violate the concept of popular sovereignty.”
"While any gerrymandering can arguably violate that principle, what we are being asked to do goes far beyond the partisan map fights that happen every 10 years across the country,” Deery said.
“Rationalizing a mid-cycle redistricting by saying, 'Democrats gerrymander too' is an empty and irrelevant excuse,” Deery said. “Instead, we are being asked to create a new culture in which it would be normal for a political party to select new voters, not once a decade — but any time it fears the consequences of an approaching election. That would clearly violate the concept of popular sovereignty by making it harder for the people to hold their elected officials accountable and the country would be an uglier place for it.”
This week, Gov. Mike Braun told reporters that he was doing two things before deciding whether to call a special session: Watching what Texas lawmakers did as the first state to consider the White House request to redistrict ahead of the 2026 midterm elections; and listening to General Assembly to determine whether there was an appetite for the idea.
For some insight into how that’s been going, the Indiana Capital Chronicle this week looked at how “rank-and-file Republicans are increasingly going public with their opposition:” “Indiana GOP lawmakers, politicos, pan prospect of early redistricting.” Or this from the Indianapolis Star: “Braun wants feedback from lawmakers on Trump's redistricting pitch. So far, they're opposed.” The idea also has been panned by Mitch Daniels, former governor and Purdue president, who told Politico’s Adam Wren that “it would be so overtly partisan that I would hope that they would abstain from it.”
Indiana’s nine congressional districts have seven Republicans and two Democrats. The blue districts include an Indianapolis-based district represented by Rep. Andre Carson and the 1st District in Northwest Indiana represented by Rep. Frank Mrvan.
The Indiana House and Indiana Senate each carry a Republican supermajority.
Typically, redistricting happens after results of the U.S. Census, in time for elections in the second year after the turn of the decade.
Deery sad Wednesday: "If a special session is called, I will stay true to my oath of office by standing up for the principle that candidates should win on the strength of their ideas and not on their ability to choose new voters."
The two Democratic members of Tippecanoe County’s delegation to the General Assembly have lined up against mid-decade redistricting, as their party pushed back across the state.
State Rep. Chris Campbell, a West Lafayette Democrat, said: “Indiana is one of the most gerrymandered state in the country. I absolutely would not support maps that will further disenfranchise Hoosier voters.
State Rep. Sheila Klinker, a Lafayette Democrat, said Wednesday that an attempt to redistrict would “just lead to chaos.” Klinker said she was still surprised Vance and the White targeted Indiana, which already has a 7-2 Republican advantage in the U.S. House. “It’s going to be a lot of money just to go after those seats, and even then, nothing’s guaranteed even if they redraw everything,” Klinker said. “I think it’s a bad idea for everyone.”
As other members of the Indiana General Assembly whose districts include parts of Tippecanoe County respond, BiL will update this list.
ANN HUNT, FORMER WEST LAFAYETTE CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, DIES: Ann Hunt, who served more than a decade on the West Lafayette City Council, died Tuesday. A Purdue graduate and professor emeritus in nursing, Hunt played roles in starting West Lafayette Farmers Market and volunteering across the community, particularly when it came to gardening, landscaping and photography. (A fellow St. Louis native, she also was quick to drop a note to check in about shared acquaintances or North County experiences, as a graduate of Ritenour High School, a Suburban North rival of my McCluer North.) She was 86. There will be a gathering of friends at Westminster Village in West Lafayette from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 16. Here’s more from her obituary.
UPDATE: INMATE DEATH REPORTED AT TIPPECANOE COUNTY JAIL: Indiana State Police, investigating the Tuesday night death of Russell Glen Stout, 38, of Monticello, in the Tippecanoe County Jail, reported that he was found unresponsive in a cell during what police said was a routine check. State police said jail staff rendered medical aid, but Stout was pronounced dead at the jail. ISP reported that there were no indications of foul play. The Tippecanoe County coroner was scheduled to do an autopsy Thursday.
Thanks, again, for support for this edition from the Wabash River Cycle Club, presenting the Wabash River Ride on Aug. 23. Learn more at www.wabashriverride.com.
Thank you for supporting Based in Lafayette, an independent, local reporting project. Free and full-ride subscription options are ready for you here.
Tips, story ideas? I’m at davebangert1@gmail.com.
Kudos to Deery for being on the right side of this issue, but also a bit hollow coming from a guy whose district was gerrymandered to ensure that West Lafayette Democratic voters are overwhelmed by rural GOP voters.
Once again, transdimensional pixie Sheila Klinker has it exactly right.