Indiana Governor Mike Braun announced he is calling a special legislative session to protect his state’s congressional influence and block outside efforts to weaken Republican representation. His move came after California’s new redistricting proposal, pushed by Democrats under Governor Gavin Newsom, threatened to shift the balance of power in Washington.

Braun said the session will aim to “protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair.”

The political stakes could not be higher. Just three new Democratic seats nationwide would be enough to flip control of the U.S. House of Representatives in 2026.

“The people of Indiana did not elect a Republican supermajority so our Senate could cower, compromise, or collapse at the very moment courage is required,” said Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith.

California’s Proposition 50, backed by Newsom and state Democrats, would create five new majority-Democrat districts if approved by voters in early November. The proposal was seen as retaliation for Texas Republicans, who in August passed a redistricting map projected to add five GOP seats.

Governor Braun’s decision followed days of debate inside Indiana’s Republican legislature, where some leaders were hesitant to reopen the state’s maps. A spokeswoman for Indiana Senate President Rodric Bray recently told Politico, “The votes aren’t there for redistricting.”

That hesitation ended with Braun’s announcement that the special session will begin November 3. The governor’s move signals new determination among Indiana Republicans to secure every available seat before the 2026 midterms.

Several other states are already making similar moves. Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe signed a new congressional map into law earlier this month. Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson said enough signatures had been collected for a special redistricting session. North Carolina Republicans approved a map expected to give them another House seat, and Virginia Democrats are preparing their own redistricting push this week.

Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk had called on Indiana Republicans to “be tough” and support redrawing the maps. Before his assassination earlier this year, Kirk said he would “support primary opponents for Republicans in the Indiana State Legislature who refuse to support the team and redraw the maps,” adding that conservatives could not “let California steal the 2026 House from us.”

Indiana Sen. Jim Banks referenced Kirk’s death, saying, “They killed Charlie Kirk — the least that we can do is go through a legal process and redistrict Indiana into a nine-to-zero map.”

Lt. Gov. Beckwith agreed, urging lawmakers to “reclaim Indiana’s rightful voice in Congress by drawing a 9-0 map.” He warned colleagues not to forget the voters who put them in office.

Following the governor’s announcement, Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston said, “We’ve received the Governor’s call for a special session and will continue having conversations within our caucus and with our counterparts in the Senate on our next steps.”

Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said he is ready to defend the new map in court as soon as it “gets across the finish line.”

With multiple states now redrawing their districts, the battle over control of the House has moved into high gear. Republicans across the country say they are done playing defense — and Braun’s move in Indiana may set the tone for how red states fight back against Democrat-led efforts to tip the balance of power in 2026.