INDIANAPOLIS — Amidst a renewed push by former President Donald Trump for redistricting in Indiana, former Governor Mitch Daniels has voiced his disapproval, questioning the necessity and fairness of manipulating electoral boundaries in a state already dominated by Republicans. The issue came to the forefront as Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana, advocating for redistricting to potentially add 10 new GOP seats by the 2026 midterm elections.

Daniels, speaking to POLITICO, expressed skepticism about the benefits of redistricting in a state where Republicans hold seven of the nine congressional seats. "It would just be wrong," Daniels remarked, emphasizing the right of the people to choose their representatives without undue interference. "People there have a right to pick the person they want."

The former governor also critiqued Trump's vocal support for the initiative, suggesting that his comments only served to politicize the issue further. "By spouting off in that way, he turns it into this partisan wrangle that we now see," Daniels said.

Despite his criticism of the current Republican efforts, Daniels acknowledged that both parties have historically engaged in gerrymandering. He described the situation as "high season for hypocrisy," pointing out past Democratic efforts to redraw district lines in their favor.

Governor Mike Braun has yet to decide on calling a special session to consider redistricting, a move that Daniels seems to find unnecessary. "My sense is you'd have to torture the lines to eke out another one somehow," he explained, highlighting the overt partisanship such an act would entail.

Daniels has always championed fair and sensible districting, advocating for boundaries that "make geographic sense" and minimize the crossing of jurisdictional lines. He reiterated his stance that creating balanced, competitive districts is crucial for a healthy political system, a view he has shared in previous writings, including a notable op-ed in the Washington Post.

As Indiana waits to see if Governor Braun will call the legislature into a special session, the debate over redistricting continues to stir controversy, with limited leverage for Democrats against the Republican supermajority in the state legislature. Daniels, who has not been in contact with House Speaker Todd Houston on this issue, remains a vocal critic of one-party rule and the pitfalls of gerrymandering—practices he believes undermine democratic principles and fair representation.