Indiana State Senator Mike Bohacek announced on Monday that his family “received threats of a bomb placed at our home” after the Republican lawmaker recently broke with President Donald Trump on redistricting efforts in the state.

Newsweek reached out Bohacek’s press office via email for additional information.

Why It Matters

The ongoing redistricting battle in Indiana has intensified political divisions within the Republican Party and drawn national attention. Trump’s involvement underscores the significance of the new congressional map debate as both parties vie for control of the U.S. House ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The outcome could set a precedent for other states considering mid-cycle redistricting and impact both voter representation and election strategies nationwide.

What To Know

Bohacek’s statement read, according to WRTV anchor Nicole Griffin on X Monday, “On Friday, Nov. 28, my family and I received threats of a bomb placed at our home. My family and I are safe, and law enforcement is currently investigating the threats made against us. I’d like to thank the Long Beach Police Department, the Porter County Sheriff’s Office and the Indiana State Police for their quick response and assistance during this investigation.

“This recent pattern of threatening behavior and intimidation attempts are not only concerning, but also illegal. I hope to see justice for this type of behavior. I will not be providing any additional information at this time as law enforcement conducts their investigation.”

Bohacek recently said he was against the redistricting push in the Hoosier State, supported by Trump, due to “derogatory references” made by the president toward Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz. In a Truth Social post, the president, 79, said Walz was “seriously retarded.” Bohacek’s second daughter has Down syndrome. 

Other Democratic lawmakers have also voiced concerns about the uptick in threats made toward them after a video they made urging American troops to refuse illegal orders prompted backlash from Trump.

Meanwhile, Indiana House Republicans unveiled a proposed congressional map on Monday designed to give the GOP an advantage in all nine of the state’s congressional districts.

The draft splits Marion County, home to Indianapolis, into four districts, potentially hampering Democratic influence, especially in seats held by Representatives Frank Mrvan and André Carson, Politico reports. The proposal could net the GOP two additional House seats.

These developments follow ongoing pressure from Trump, who has urged Indiana’s Republican leadership to pass a map favoring his party, which holds a narrow House majority, before the 2026 elections.

What People Are Saying

U.S. Senate Democratic Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, in a statement—according to NOTUS Reports’ Daniella Diaz—on X Monday, also noting bomb threats made toward his offices: “This morning, I was informed by law enforcement entities throughout New York of multiple bomb threats that were made at my offices in Rochester, Binghamton, and Long Island with the email subject line ‘MAGA’ and from an email address alleging the ‘2020 election was rigged.’ Local and federal law enforcement responded immediately and are conducting full security sweeps. Everyone is safe, and I am grateful for their quick and professional response to ensure these offices remain safe and secure for all New Yorkers.

“As I have said many times, these kinds of violent threats have absolutely no place in our political system. No one—no public servant, no staff member, no constituent, no citizen—should ever be targeted for simply doing their job.”

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem Rodric Bray, a Republican, in a statement November 25: “The issue of redrawing Indiana’s congressional maps mid-cycle has received a lot of attention and is causing strife here in our state. To resolve this issue, the Senate intends to reconvene as part of the regular 2026 session on Dec. 8 and make a final decision that week on any redistricting proposal sent from the House. Because we will reconvene as part of the regular 2026 legislative session, we anticipate concluding our regular 2026 session by the end of February.”

What Happens Next

The Indiana House is set to take up a vote on the proposed map. If it passes, the measure will go to the state Senate, which remains divided. Should the Senate reject or delay adoption, redistricting could remain on hold until the next election cycle, leaving the current map in place for the 2026 midterms.

Republicans in Indiana’s State House released a draft congressional map that could eliminate two districts that are currently held by Democrats. 

The state GOP published the map Monday in response to months of pressure to gerrymander from President Donald Trump and weeks of escalating threats and harassment. 

The Indiana House could pass the map this week, teeing up a vote in the state Senate when it convenes Dec. 8. 

States typically redraw their congressional districts once every decade after receiving new census data. But this year, ahead of the 2026 midterms, Trump has ignited a rare, mid-decade redistricting push across the country, demanding GOP-controlled states create more Republican congressional seats and inciting states run by Democrats to redraw their maps in response.

Lawmakers in Texas, Missouri and North Carolina quickly bent to Trump’s will, rushing maps through shortened redistricting processes and passing them into law despite opposition from voters. Voting rights advocates have fought back with litigation.

But the ultimate outcome in Indiana appears less certain than in many other states.

Indiana Senate Republicans have repeatedly insisted they don’t have the votes to pass a gerrymander. 

After Trump released a message criticizing Republicans who opposed redistricting, at least five Indiana lawmakers were targeted in so-called “swatting” incidents, in which individuals submitted false emergency reports about them to local law enforcement. Others received bomb threats. 

As threats escalated against lawmakers, Senate leader Rodric Bray (R) announced last week that they would convene to hold a redistricting vote.

While the threats may have succeeded in forcing the vote, it’s less clear whether they will change any lawmakers’ positions.

State Sen. Jean Leising (R) said her home was the target of a pipe bomb threat over the weekend. 

“This is a result of the D.C. political pundits for redistricting,” she said on social media, adding that she “will not cave” on opposing redistricting.