President Trump called Indiana Senate Republicans on Friday morning to encourage them to redraw the state’s congressional maps to benefit Republicans ahead of the midterm elections, according to two people familiar with the call.
Mr. Trump was expected to ask the state lawmakers to support a new map that would eliminate the state’s two Democratic districts and give Republicans all nine congressional seats, the people said.
The call is part of an escalating White House pressure campaign on Republican-led states to redraw congressional maps to help the Trump administration retain control of the U.S. House in the midterm elections next year.
Vice President JD Vance has made two separate trips to Indiana to meet with state lawmakers and make the case for why the state should redraw the maps. Mr. Trump’s involvement signals that the White House is concerned that not all Republican lawmakers in Indiana are on board with the plan.
The White House has lobbied Indiana state officials to call a special session to approve a new map, but officials have encountered resistance from Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, a Republican, according to people briefed on the process.
Tyler Pager is a White House correspondent for The Times, covering President Trump and his administration.
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