A Northern Indiana Republican announced Nov. 28 that he will vote against Indiana redistricting following President Donald Trump’s use of a slur in a Thanksgiving social media post.
Trump’s Nov. 27 Truth Social post ‒ one in a series of anti-immigrant comments posted Thursday ‒ referred to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as the “r-word.” Though the word was formerly used in medical contexts, it’s now widely regarded as offensive, and disability advocates seek to end its use.
“Those of you that don’t know me or my family might not know that my daughter has Down Syndrome,” state Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores, wrote on Facebook. “This is not the first time our president has used these insulting and derogatory references and his choices of words have consequences.”
Trump has pushed for several states, including Indiana, to redraw congressional maps to create more safe Republican districts ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Redistricting in Indiana appeared to dead for 2025 when state Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray announced Nov. 14 that his chamber did not have the votes to support it. But Bray reversed course Nov. 25 and said the Senate would in fact vote on whatever proposal the House sends their way.
The House is scheduled to convene Dec. 1 to discuss a new map, and the Senate is set to vote Dec. 8. Both chambers would have to pass a measure to send it to Gov. Mike Braun to be signed into law.
Bohacek, who had not previously made a public statement on redistricting, was one of 19 Republican senators who voted to reconvene in January rather than meeting on redistricting in December.
Indiana’s redistricting fight has in recent weeks drawn both Trump’s ire and threats to lawmakers in their homes.
Ryan Murphy is the communities reporter for IndyStar. She can be reached at rhmurphy@indystar.com.
