At least two Indiana senators were invited to the White House next week as Trump ramps up pressure on redistricting. One declined, and one plans to go.
INDIANAPOLIS — The push to redraw Indiana’s congressional map has escalated, with at least two Indiana state senators now confirming they have been invited to the White House next week as part of President Donald Trump’s push to influence the redistricting fight.
13News has independently confirmed that Republican Sen. Jean Leising and Republican Sen. Aaron Freeman received invitations to meet with Trump’s team in Washington D.C.
Leising told 13News Statehouse reporter Emily Longnecker that she declined. Freeman confirmed Friday night he intends to go.
The invitations mark the latest step in a push that has already included two visits to Indiana by Vice President JD Vance and a direct phone call from Trump to Senate Republicans during a closed-door caucus in October, first reported by POLITICO.
Leising, who has publicly opposed redistricting, told 13News earlier Friday she would not change her mind.
“I won’t change my mind. I’m a person that when I’m committed on an issue, I stay committed,” Leising told 13News.
Freeman has not publicly stated where he stands on redistricting.
President Trump summoning lawmakers to the White House
The confirmations from Leising and Freeman come after POLITICO reported President Trump is summoning Indiana lawmakers to the White House as early as next week, citing two sources familiar with the request.
13News has now independently verified that at least two senators were contacted.
The White House outreach comes the same day Senate GOP leaders effectively shut down the redistricting effort for now.
On Friday, Senate President Pro Tem Rod Bray announced the chamber will not convene in December as planned, telling members there are not enough votes to approve a new congressional map.
Gov. Mike Braun pushed back minutes later, saying lawmakers should “show up and vote for fair maps.” Democrats welcomed the decision, calling it a win for voters and transparency.
“I think that says a lot about Hoosiers and their perspectives and what would have changed the institution irrevocably,” Laura Merrifield Wilson, a political science professor at UIndy told 13News. “Hoosiers, at least up to this point, our state legislature, and specifically the Indiana General Assembly have said, ‘We’re just simply not interested in changing those rules.'”
Tight calendar makes redistricting harder
Candidate filing for Indiana’s 2026 congressional races begins in early January, and county clerks must know district boundaries to certify who is eligible to run.
Experts say completing a full map overhaul before the filing deadline would be extremely difficult.
“It’s very complicated, and especially when you’re working backwards with the timeline,” Wilson said. “I think a lot of people don’t understand how compressed This is. You know, we’re talking within a matter of weeks, this would have to be done.”
Indiana last redrew its congressional lines in 2021 after the U.S. Census. Mid-cycle redistricting is uncommon, and several states, including Kansas, have recently declined to pursue similar proposals.
What’s next
With one Indiana senator planning to travel to Washington and another declining, it’s unclear whether Trump’s push will gain traction in the weeks ahead.
13News has reached out to the White House for comment and any plans for visits to Indiana. This story will be updated as we learn more.
