At their first meeting of 2026, the Indianapolis City-County Council elected new leadership and moved forward on data centers.

Indiana's Legislative leaders gave their assessment of how the state was doing and what they think are the major challenges lawmakers will face in 2026.

Indiana Governor Mike Braun closed out 2025 pointing to education gains, government restructuring, and property tax relief as defining accomplishments of his first year in office, while largely downplaying internal Republican tensions that surfaced over redistricting and other high-profile issues.

The Republican-dominated Indiana Senate spurned months of demands from President Donald Trump as it voted 31-19 on Thursday to reject a redrawing of the state’s congressional maps.

The final outcome remained uncertain until 21 Republicans joined all 10 Democratic senators in blocking the redistricting plan. The proposal didn’t even win support from a majority of the 40 Republican senators.

The Republican-dominated Indiana Senate spurned months of demands from President Donald Trump as it voted 31-19 on Thursday to reject a redrawing of the state’s congressional maps.

The final outcome remained uncertain until 21 Republicans joined all 10 Democratic senators in blocking the redistricting plan. The proposal didn’t even win support from a majority of the 40 Republican senators.

Republican State Senator Mike Crider says he is a hard and absolute “no” on drawing new congressional maps and that recent pressure tactics have only reinforced his opposition. He also noted that absences, including Senator Buck’s, could affect Thursday’s vote but says he has no plans to change his own position. Crider added that Indiana’s federal delegation should step in and push back against outside efforts to force the state into redistricting.

House Speaker Todd Huston defended House Bill 1032 on Friday, describing the mid-cycle redistricting measure as the product of a rigorous process supported by the Indiana Election Division and county officials.

New Maps - Speaker Todd Huston by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz

Governor Mike Braun and House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta share their reactions to the new congressional maps passed by the Indiana House. Braun reiterates his pledge to support primary challengers against GOP senators who oppose the measure in next week’s vote, while GiaQuinta warns that lawsuits are imminent — and that the maps could energize Democratic voters heading into 2026.

Governor Mike Braun and House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta share their reactions to the new congressional maps passed by the Indiana House. Braun reiterates his pledge to support primary challengers against GOP senators who oppose the measure in next week’s vote, while GiaQuinta warns that lawsuits are imminent — and that the maps could energize Democratic voters heading into 2026.