Indiana Senate Republicans revealed on Friday, through the body's President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, that they don't have the votes to move forward with President Donald Trump's demand to redraw their state's congressional districts to delete Democratic seats, marking yet another setback in the GOP's bid to shore up their position in next year's midterm elections.
As the news broke, a number of pro-Trump politicians and figures voiced their rage on social media — with some threatening the careers of the Republican lawmakers who refused to join the effort.
"I called for our legislators to convene to ensure Hoosiers’ voices in Washington, DC are not diluted by the democrats’ gerrymandering," wrote Gov. Mike Braun, a supporter of Trump's efforts. "Our state senators need to do the right thing and show up to vote for fair maps. Hoosiers deserve to know where their elected officials stand on important issues."
"BREAKING: Sen Rodric Bray announces retirement," wrote Trump campaign strategist Chris LaCivita.
However, a number of other commenters celebrated the news — and flagged what a danger sign it is that Trump couldn't muster the support for his plans in a heavily red state.
"This is big: elected Republicans in a deep-red state saying NO to Trump even after his personal plea. The balance is shifting — and we have to keep up the pressure everywhere," wrote Pete Buttigieg, former Secretary of Transportation and mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
"Have said whenever asked — on CNN, by WaPo, Politico, The Hill, etc — from the beginning that the appetite to redistrict did not exist," wrote conservative Indianapolis communications strategist Pete Seat. "We do it right in Indiana & the desire to undercut that was lacking. Those who don’t get our state replied with 'But Trump!' So much for that."
"Every phone call matters. Every email matters. Every protest matters. Every letter to the editor matters," wrote former Ohio Democratic Party chair David Pepper. "We have agency. Always. To stop Trump’s effort to rig Indiana, when the GOP dominates that statehouse, is one impressive feat!"
"You can tell Trump is turning into a lame duck because pockets of the Republican Party are refusing to do his bidding," wrote Democratic strategist Mike Nellis. "See: Indiana Republicans once again rejecting his demands to gerrymander the state."
"Indiana is an interesting place for random state legislators to test the President's capacity/will to destroy them politically," wrote Targeted Victory's Liam Donovan.