By Noah Crenshaw | Daily Journal
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The county would change congressional districts under proposed redistricting maps released Tuesday.
The proposed maps are part of the once-a-decade process of redrawing the political map and include some major changes for Johnson County.
Under the proposed maps by state Republicans — which have full control of Indiana’s redistricting process through their dominance of the state legislature — Johnson County would be moved to District 6, represented by Greg Pence, R-Indiana.
The last time the county was a part of the district was after the 2001 redistricting process, when the southern portions of the county were a part of the district. If the maps are approved, Johnson County’s new representative would be Pence. Pence, a Columbus-native who has represented the district since 2019, is the brother of former Vice President and Indiana Gov. Mike Pence.
Pence declined to comment Tuesday on the proposed changes.
Johnson County has been a part of U.S. House of Representatives District 9 since the 2011 redistricting process, and has been served by Rep. Trey Hollingsworth, R-Indiana, since 2017.
Hollingsworth said in a statement he would continue to be accessible to Johnson County residents regardless of district boundaries.
“I have so many friends in Johnson County, and we have together advanced Hoosier interests and solved Hoosier problems,” Hollingsworth said in the statement. “No matter where map lines are drawn, we will continue to be friends, I will continue to be accessible and we will continue to fight for our shared values.”
Republicans, for their part, plan to move quickly to approve the new districts, with the House elections committee holding two days of public hearings Wednesday and Thursday followed by votes in the full House next week, The Associated Press reported. Proposed state Senate maps are set for release next Tuesday, with a final Senate vote expected Oct. 1.
State legislature shifts
Two Indiana House districts that currently cover Johnson County — districts 65 and 93 — would no longer have the county if the plans are approved. Under the proposed maps, the county would be a part of districts 57 and 60, while continuing to be a part of districts 47 and 58.
Most of the county would be under District 47, represented by John Young, R-Franklin.
The northeastern portion of the county, including most of Greenwood, would continue to be a part of District 58, represented by Michelle Davis, R-Whiteland.
Sean Eberhart, R-Shelbyville, represents District 57, which currently includes all of Shelby County, a portion of Bartholomew County and a small portion of southern Hancock County. Under the proposed maps, District 57 would be moved to the west — losing Shelby County entirely — to include northwestern Johnson County, northeastern Morgan County and southeastern Hendricks County.
Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, represents District 60, which currently includes about half of Morgan County and a chunk of Monroe County. Under the proposed maps, it would include a small portion of northwestern Johnson County, all of Morgan County and a smaller portion of Monroe County.
Mayfield has not had time to analyze the proposed changes in detail, she said in a statement Tuesday.
“Johnson County is not an unfamiliar area to me and once the maps are finalized, I would be excited to learn more about the unique character and needs of each individual community,” Mayfield said.
Changes to districts were expected as they almost always change each redistricting cycle. However, earlier this week, House elections committee chairman Rep. Tim Wesco, R-Osceola, said he was anticipating some dramatic changes in the maps.
Since this year’s redistricting process began, voting rights activists have argued that partisan gerrymandering has helped Indiana Republicans gain outsized power in state government. Currently, Republicans have a 71-29 majority in the House and a 39-11 majority in the Senate.
Other congressional changes
Elsewhere in Indiana, the proposed maps shift the northern tier of Democratic-leaning Marion County from District 5, represented by Victoria Spartz, R-Noblesville, to that of Rep. Andre Carson, D-Indianapolis. The move would boost Spartz as she lost badly in Marion County in last year’s election even as she won by an overall 50%-46% margin over Democratic candidate Christina Hale.
Other changes across Indiana’s nine congressional districts that are designed to account for population shifts don’t appear likely to shift the 7-2 control Republicans now hold on those seats.
The Republican plan leaves intact the northwestern Indiana district that includes industry-heavy Lake County and has long been a Democratic stronghold. The proposed district along Lake Michigan wouldn’t change much from the one Rep. Frank Mrvan, D-Highland, won last year.
Indiana Democratic Party Chairman Mike Schmuhl released a statement on Tuesday accusing Republicans of manipulating democracy during the redistricting process through public hearings that seemed to only act as a comment box. The maps were drawn without transparency and with the input of a Washington, D.C. consultant Republicans hired to solidify the partisan process, he said.
“In the months and years ahead, Indiana Democrats will continue to work overtime to deliver a brighter future for all Hoosiers where voting rights are expanded, workers make a livable wage to provide for their families, our public schools and teachers become some of the best in the country and every Hoosier feels as though they belong,” Schmuhl said in a statement.
Public hearings planned
Hoosiers will have an opportunity to provide feedback during two public meetings that will take place later this week at the Indiana Statehouse.
Indiana’s House Elections and Apportionment Committee will meet from 1-5 p.m. today, and at 10 a.m. Thursday for the public meetings. The second meeting will go until all testimony concludes. Both meetings will take place in the House Chamber. Anyone can sign up to testify when they arrive at the chamber, lawmakers say.
The maps will not go before the full Indiana House until Monday, when lawmakers are expected to vote on the election committee’s report. Second and third readings on the maps will take place later next week, on Sept. 22 and 23 respectively.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
