...
By Dan Gooding and Jason Lemon
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
Indiana state Senator Mike Gaskill, a Pendleton Republican, declared on Thursday that a "second civil war has already started" in the United States, as he urged his colleagues to back an ultimately unsuccessful state redistricting push backed by President Donald Trump.
"I will submit to you that the Second US Civil War has already started. They're just using surrogates," the Republican lawmaker said. The Indiana state senator added, "I submit to you that that's accurate."
Essential reading: Trump Targets His Own Voters' Cheap Broadband
Read More on Politics
Despite Gaskill's remarks and significant pressure from the Trump administration, the redistricting effort failed in the Indiana Senate on Thursday. The legislative body rejected the mid-decade redistricting bill by a 19-31 vote.
Why It Matters
Trump has been backing redistricting efforts that would benefit the Republican Party in next year's midterms, but opposition from members of his own party, despite Gaskill's comments, in Indiana will be a blow to those efforts. The notion of a second U.S. civil war has been mentioned a few times in recent history, by those on both sides of the aisle—some worried that progressive policies threaten to divide the country, while others have blamed the MAGA movement for divisive rhetoric.
...
What To Know
Outside the state Senate chamber ahead of the vote, redistricting opponents chanted “Vote no!” and “Fair maps!” while holding signs with slogans like “Losers cheat.”
Concerns had been raised about the proposed map, which was designed to give the GOP control of all nine of Indiana's congressional seats, erasing the two currently held by Democrats. Support for the move, however, was unclear, with many state Senators not taking a position ahead of Thursday's vote.
Republican Senator Greg Goode, previously undecided, signaled his displeasure with the redistricting plan. In firmly delivered remarks, he said some of his constituents objected to seeing their county split up or paired with Indianapolis. He expressed “love” for Trump but criticized what he called “over-the-top pressure” from inside and outside the state.
Senator Michael Young, another Republican, said the stakes in Congress justify redistricting, as Democrats are only a few seats away from flipping control of the U.S. House in 2026. “I know this election is going to be very close,” he said.
Gaskill had shown a map of congressional seats across the country, highlighting those held by Democrats in New England and Illinois, and stated that this was evidence that Democrats gerrymandered, and therefore, so should Indiana Republicans.
After comparing the situation to another civil war, Gaskill also compared it to World War II, telling those in the chamber that lawmakers had the opportunity "to either be Churchills or Chamberlains," referring to the British prime ministers in office during the war.
Both parties are gearing up for the 2026 midterms, with Democrats hoping to regain control of at least one chamber of the U.S. Congress. In California, voters approved new measures favorable to Democrats in November, while a judge in Utah imposed new rules that could see the party gain seats there.
Meanwhile, in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina, GOP-favoring maps have also been introduced. In the Texas case, the U.S. Supreme Court had to step in, allowing the changes to go ahead.
What People Are Saying
Indianapolis Councilor Nick Roberts, on X in response to Gaskill: "This rhetoric is going to get people killed. In a time when we need to be dramatically turning down the temperature, this kind of rhetoric is just so irresponsible."
NAACP National President Derrick Johnson, in a statement shared with Newsweek: “We applaud the Indiana Senate for prioritizing democracy in the face of an authoritarian pressure campaign. The fight over redistricting is far from over, and - as we did in Texas and Missouri - we stand ready to take action whenever and wherever necessary to defend voters’ constitutional rights. We will challenge all attempts to erode Black political power, whenever that may be in the country.”
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post Wednesday night about the vote: "Anybody that votes against Redistricting, and the SUCCESS of the Republican Party in D.C., will be, I am sure, met with a MAGA Primary in the Spring. If Republicans will not do what is necessary to save our Country, they will eventually lose everything to the Democrats."
What Happens Next
Indiana cannot revisit the issue ahead of the 2026 midterms, but other efforts are underway across the country to redraw maps to try to affect the makeup of the House and Senate after next November.
This story contains reporting by The Associated Press.
Update 12/11/25, 5:42 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from NAACP National President Derrick Johnson and additional information.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines