Indiana state Sen. Mike Gaskill, a Republican from Pendleton, sparked outrage on Thursday after telling colleagues he believes a “second U.S. Civil War has already started,” as he pushed them to support a mid-decade redistricting plan aligned with President Donald Trump’s political goals.
“I will submit to you that the Second US Civil War has already started. They’re just using surrogates,” Gaskill said on the Senate floor. “I submit to you that that’s accurate.”
Despite his comments — and despite intense pressure from Trump and his allies — the redistricting effort collapsed. The Indiana Senate rejected the proposal Thursday by a 19–31 vote.
Why It Matters
Trump has encouraged redistricting efforts aimed at strengthening Republican prospects ahead of next year’s midterms. Indiana’s failure is a setback to that strategy, especially because resistance came in part from within the GOP. Gaskill’s rhetoric also echoes a recurring, increasingly heated national debate in which talk of a second civil war has surfaced from different corners of the political spectrum, often tied to fears about deepening polarization and political extremism.
What To Know
Ahead of the vote, opponents of the proposal gathered outside the state Senate chamber, chanting “Vote no!” and “Fair maps!” and holding signs with slogans such as “Losers cheat.”
Critics argued the proposed map was engineered to give Republicans control of all nine of Indiana’s congressional seats, wiping out the two districts currently held by Democrats. Even among Republicans, support appeared uncertain, with multiple senators declining to clearly commit before the vote.
One of them, Republican Sen. Greg Goode, signaled strong objections during debate. He said some constituents were unhappy about counties being split or paired with Indianapolis. While he expressed “love” for Trump, he also criticized what he described as “over-the-top pressure” from both inside and outside Indiana.
Republican Sen. Michael Young argued that the national stakes justified the push, noting Democrats are only a few seats away from flipping the U.S. House in 2026. “I know this election is going to be very close,” he said.
During debate, Gaskill displayed a map of congressional districts across the country, pointing to Democratic-held seats in places such as New England and Illinois as evidence Democrats gerrymander — and that Indiana Republicans should respond in kind.
After invoking civil war language, he also reached for a World War II comparison, telling lawmakers they had the chance “to either be Churchills or Chamberlains,” referencing the British prime ministers associated with wartime leadership and appeasement.
Across the country, both parties are already positioning for the 2026 midterms. Democrats are aiming to regain control of at least one chamber of Congress. In California, voters approved measures in November viewed as favorable to Democrats, while a judge in Utah imposed new rules that could help the party gain seats there.
Meanwhile, GOP-favoring maps have been introduced in Texas, Missouri, Ohio, and North Carolina. In Texas, the U.S. Supreme Court intervened, allowing changes to proceed.
What People Are Saying
Indianapolis Councilor Nick Roberts wrote on X in response to Gaskill’s remarks: “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 said 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.”
Trump posted on Truth Social Wednesday night, warning Republicans against opposing the plan: “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 lawmakers cannot revisit the issue before the 2026 midterms. But redistricting fights are continuing elsewhere, with both parties pursuing map changes that could shape control of the House and Senate after next November.
