President Trump is using his influence to run Republican challengers against some of the Indiana state senators who refused to redistrict to keep GOP control of the U.S. House.
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
The Republican primary for Indiana’s 23rd state Senate district has brought in vastly more cash than the last time the seat was open. The Indiana Senate rejected President Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional map. Now the president has vowed to challenge any Republicans who oppose his plan to help their party win more seats in November. Here’s WFYI’s Ben Thorp.
BEN THORP, BYLINE: Republican Indiana state Senator Spencer Deery got up in front of his colleagues last December and gave this testimony ahead of the vote to redistrict the state’s congressional maps.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SPENCER DEERY: As long as I have breath, I will use my voice to resist a federal government that attempts to bully, direct and control this state or any state.
THORP: Despite pressure from the president and several visits to the state by Vice President Vance, Deery and 20 other Senate Republicans joined Democrats in voting against redistricting.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #1: Nineteen ayes, 31 nos. This bill has been defeated.
(CHEERING)
THORP: And with that, Indiana became one of the first red states to rebuff pressure from the president over a push to control the U.S. House. Now Deery and other senators who voted no are paying for it. Trump has endorsed primary challengers against nearly all of the Republicans who voted against his plan and are up for reelection.
DEERY: It’s about intimidating Indiana’s elected officials into listening to outside voices, not Hoosiers. And that should concern anybody, no matter their politics.
THORP: Deery, who sees himself as a constitutional conservative, says some of Trump’s endorsements have gone to more moderate Republicans.
DEERY: And so, clearly, it is not about who’s with him, who’s conservative, who’s not a conservative. Is it about one issue.
THORP: And on that one issue, Deery says he stands by his vote. He says his constituents were adamant. They didn’t want a new map that favors Republicans. Deery’s challenger, Paula Copenhaver, says the failure of Indiana Republicans to vote for redistricting could have national political consequences.
PAULA COPENHAVER: It could be the difference between a majority in Washington, D.C., for the Republicans or not.
THORP: Copenhaver currently works in the office of Indiana’s lieutenant governor.
COPENHAVER: And when we have the power to do good and we don’t, shame on us for not playing by the same rules that our opponent plays by.
THORP: Copenhaver says her opposition to Deery goes beyond his no vote on redistricting. She says he hasn’t done a good job representing rural voters since he won the seat over her in 2022. But his vote has undeniably boosted Copenhaver’s campaign. She was invited to the White House to meet with President Trump earlier this year. She says it was humbling to hear that Trump was paying attention to her race because of redistricting.
COPENHAVER: He was very straightforward and direct about the issue, and he told us that we have his support.
THORP: According to Indiana campaign finance reports, Deery is outspending Copenhaver nearly 50-1. But outside groups at the national level have committed millions to help Copenhaver and other primary challengers win in Indiana. Conservative groups have also sent activists to the state to campaign for primary challengers. At a sparsely attended event in West Lafayette, Scott Presler, speaking on behalf of Turning Point USA, urged voters to back Copenhaver.
(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)
SCOTT PRESLER: As our true conservative nominee, game on.
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON #2: Yes.
(CHEERING)
THORP: As the primary day comes closer, Turning Point has sent several of its members to Indiana to door-knock on behalf of Trump-endorsed candidates. Copenhaver says she’s happy to have their backing.
COPENHAVER: They are focused on what their concern is, which is the same as mine is – saving our constitutional republic.
THORP: It’s a lot at stake in a primary that in 2022 was decided by fewer than a thousand votes. Indiana’s primary election day is Tuesday.
For NPR News, I’m Ben Thorp in West Lafayette, Indiana.
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