Harris amendment to study cost of mid-decade redistricting rejected by supermajority

Today, State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) offered an amendment to House Bill 1032, which would have created a study to determine the true cost of mid-decade redistricting for state and local bodies. The amendment failed along party lines by a vote of 65-28.

Harris issued the following statement:

"What happened to Republicans being the party of fiscal responsibility? All this amendment would have done is examine the cost of mid-decade redistricting on local governments, including counties thrown into chaos by the creation of these new district lines.

"Here's the simple truth: Indiana Republicans rejected this amendment for the same reason they're rushing these new maps through our chamber. They know mid-decade redistricting is unpopular, and a study on the cost might force them to admit that their policies are both unpopular and costly to Hoosiers. Redistricting every 10 years, as we're supposed to do, can cost the state millions of dollars, much of which is shouldered by local governments. Now, Indiana Republicans are trying to push through two maps in less than five years. If they actually cared about fiscal responsibility, mid-decade redistricting would have been a non-starter. This should tell Hoosiers everything they need to know about where House Republicans' priorities lie. They don't care about saving taxpayer dollars, and they don’t care about the confusion that voters will face with these cracked and packed new districts.

"This week, Indiana Republicans have shown us that they don't care what Hoosiers want, they don't care about the process and they don't care about the cost if it means they get to retain power."

IBLC calls on General Assembly to reject new maps, prioritize needs of Hoosiers

Today, State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), led a press conference following the first meeting of the Indiana House of Representatives to discuss mid-decade redistricting. House Republicans did not release their map proposal until the morning of Dec. 1.

Harris issued the following statement on behalf of the IBLC:

"For months now, we in the IBLC have been speaking out about the dangers of mid-decade redistricting. If passed, these new maps will weaken our democracy and silence the voices of countless Hoosiers. We've also been calling on the Republican supermajority to address the issues that are facing Hoosiers: an egregious cost of living, rising utility rates and a lack of access to child care, just to name a few.

"Instead of using this time to help Hoosiers, Indiana Republicans have called us back here early to vote on new congressional maps. Will these new maps help Hoosiers put food on the table? Will they help the Hoosiers who are forced to decide between rationing their medication or growing to the grocery store? The answer, of course, is no. This new map proposal is nothing more than a political game meant to appease the fringes of their base. Hoosiers don't want new maps. They want help making ends meet.

"It's worth noting that being back at the Statehouse in December will limit the amount of time during the regularly-scheduled session to address the real issues impacting our state. If Republicans aren't going to use this time to help improve our state, they're wasting our time, and, more importantly, Hoosiers' time."

IBLC condemns Indiana Republicans’ continued redistricting push

Today, Speaker of the House Todd Huston and Senate Pro Tem. Rodric Bray announced the Indiana General Assembly will reconvene early for the 2026 session to discuss redistricting, starting December 1.  

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement:

"Every day, we hear from constituents who are struggling to keep their lights on and put food on the table. Many of them are straddled with health care debt and rising utility costs. None of our constituents have called or emailed to tell them how excited they are about new congressional maps. Hoosiers don't want redistricting; they want a better quality of life. Instead of working to make life more affordable for Hoosiers, Indiana Republicans are focusing their efforts on appeasing Washington, D.C.

"The only thing they're doing by convening early is cutting into valuable time we could have come January to address the cost of living, health care costs and other issues impacting Indiana. If the state were to pass new congressional maps, the move would cause chaos for county clerks and local governments and unnecessary confusion for voters. Come Dec. 1,  I hope House Republicans take the time to consider the potential ramifications of mid-decade redistricting on Hoosiers and not move forward with any new maps."

IBLC focuses efforts on 2026 legislative agenda

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, issued the following statement on behalf of the IBLC regarding Indiana Senate Republicans not moving forward with redistricting efforts: 

“We in the IBLC are looking forward to focusing our efforts on our 2026 legislative agenda, which will focus on lowering the cost of living and giving every Hoosier a fair shot at economic security.”

Indiana Black Legislative Caucus prepared to fight for fair maps, Hoosiers ahead of early session

Today, Indiana Republicans announced the Indiana General Assembly will convene early for its 2026 session, gaveling in on Dec. 1-12. In his announcement, Speaker of the House Todd Huston said lawmakers can discuss "any time sensitive issues," though he did not specifically mention redistricting. Mid-decade redistricting has gotten significant attention throughout the state following pressure from Washington, D.C.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement regarding next month's convening:

"This announcement came just moments after the IBLC finished our rally in the Statehouse to stand against redistricting. Today, we heard the same thing from Hoosiers that we've been hearing since earlier this summer: They don't want new maps. Even Republican Hoosiers have voiced their opposition to redistricting. With specific dates now nailed down, we in the IBLC urge Hoosiers to continue reaching out to their elected officials to urge them not to redraw Indiana's congressional maps.

"When we come back for session, I hope we can focus on the issues that really matter to Hoosiers. In a time where the cost of living continues to rise, Hoosiers need higher wages, lower utility bills, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and accessible, affordable child care. Too many of our neighbors are struggling to make ends meet, and redrawing our maps won't help them and their families. We have an opportunity here to truly help our constituents, and the IBLC will prioritize Hoosiers over political games. We hope our colleagues in the Republican Party will do the same in December. If they do move to redistrict, we will do everything we can to amplify the voices of the many Hoosiers we've heard from to advocate for fair maps."

Redistricting won’t help Hoosiers make ends meet

As a long-time legislator and chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), I know first-hand the issues plaguing Hoosiers. Every day, Indiana residents are struggling with rising costs of living, higher utility bills and sky-high health care costs. Local governments are set to lose huge chunks of revenue due to Senate Enrolled Act 1, which could lead to an increase in local taxes. Many Hoosiers are forced to leave work due to unaffordable or inaccessible child care.

However, when Gov. Mike Braun called for a special session of the Indiana General Assembly earlier this week, he didn't call it to focus on any of these problems. Instead, he bowed to Washington, D.C. in an attempt to help the national Republican Party rig the 2026 midterm elections.

The last time we redrew our congressional maps in 2021 – when we were constitutionally required to following the census – Indiana Republicans touted the maps as "fair" and "beautiful." With seven of Indiana's nine congressional seats safely held by their fellow Republicans, they saw no issue with the maps they created.

And, it seems, Hoosiers largely agreed. Before Vice President JD Vance visited Indiana the first time earlier this summer, no one in our caucus received any calls or emails in favor of creating new maps. Again, Hoosiers have bigger fish to fry – from needing rental assistance to help handling medical debt and everything in between. The fact is, Republicans throughout the country know their policies are not popular with the American people and causing financial stress. If their policies were really helping improve the quality of life for Americans across the board, they wouldn't have to play these political games to ensure they maintain their power. Unfortunately, Indiana Republicans seem far too willing to play ball to help the folks in Washington.

Let's be clear, mid-decade redistricting is not about helping Hoosiers, it's about disenfranchising them. Roughly 40% of Hoosiers align with the Democratic Party, and they deserve fair representation in Congress and in the Statehouse. I'm not just saying this as a Democrat; I'm saying this as a lawmaker and Hoosier who values fairness and equity. Without balanced representation, a large swath of Hoosiers will not have their voices heard, and that is unacceptable.

Mid-decade redistricting will also do a major disservice to civic engagement in Indiana. In the 2024 general election, only 61% of registered voters cast a ballot in Indiana, with 97,000 fewer Hoosiers participating in our democracy than in 2020. If Indiana Republicans go through with this redistricting scheme against the wishes of their constituents, why would Hoosiers be compelled to vote in future elections? Both Reps. Frank Mrvan and Andre Carson – who are being targeted by this effort – have won reelection in their districts multiple times. It's clear to me that their communities are happy with the work they're doing. If that should change, it's the community who should be able to vote them out, not the Indiana General Assembly deciding for them. I'd like to remind my Republican colleagues: Real leaders aren't afraid of their constituents.

It's important to note that just because Gov. Braun called a special session does not mean the General Assembly is forced to convene to redistrict. Our Republican colleagues still have an opportunity to stand up for Hoosiers and their real-world economic concerns and tell the folks in Washington, D.C. that they don't work for them. For anyone concerned about redistricting, the cost of living and the state of our democracy, we in the IBLC urge you to call your elected officials to share your thoughts.

If we do convene to draw new congressional maps and not deal with the real issues Hoosiers are facing, we in the IBLC plan to work with our respective caucus members to fight for Hoosiers and for fair maps, because democracy doesn't get redrawn.

IBLC condemns special session to redistrict Indiana congressional maps mid-decade

Today, Gov. Mike Braun called legislators back to the Statehouse for a special session to redraw Indiana's congressional maps mid-decade. Lawmakers are set to hold session starting Monday, Nov. 3.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement on behalf of the IBLC:

"Since President Donald Trump first began pressuring Republicans across the country to redraw congressional maps earlier this summer, Hoosiers have made one thing clear: they do not want new maps. Gov. Braun's decision prioritizes political games over the will of the people he was elected to serve. The question is simple: Does Braun serve Hoosiers, or Washington, D.C.?

"Indiana residents deserve fair and balanced representation in Congress. When the maps were redrawn in 2021, as required by the Constitution, our Republican colleagues repeatedly assured us that they were fair. So why the sudden change now? It's not because constituents demanded it – it's because President Trump and Vice President JD Vance successfully pressured them into submission.  

"There's a misconception that Indiana is a solidly 'red state.' In reality, President Trump only received 58% of the vote here in 2024. Indiana is a purple state with challenges in voter turnout. Calling a special session to redraw maps will only further discourage Hoosiers from participating in elections. Reps. Frank Mrvan and Andre Carson have repeatedly earned the trust of their constituents. Yet instead of listening to local communities, Indiana Republicans are disenfranchising them.

"Hoosiers don’t need new congressional maps—they need higher wages, affordable health care, accessible childcare and housing, and lower utility costs. These are the real issues affecting people’s daily lives. Yet the governor and Republican supermajority are wasting time—and taxpayer dollars—bowing to President Trump. This isn’t just disappointing—it’s an embarrassment to our state.

"We urge all Hoosiers to sign the petition set up by Common Cause Indiana to make their stance on redistricting clear to lawmakers. Call your state representative, senator and Gov. Braun to share your concerns. On the first day of special session, the IBLC encourages everyone to come to the Statehouse to make their voices heard and to understand the potential impact of redistricting.  

"The IBLC will stand alongside our Democratic colleagues in the House and Senate to fight this blatant power grab. Hoosiers are worth defending, and we will do everything possible to ensure congressional maps remain fair and balanced—because democracy should not be redrawn for political gain."

Harris, Jackson respond to ICE agents operating in Northwest Indiana

Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers were seen throughout Northwest Indiana, including in Hammond and East Chicago. Multiple videos on social media show ICE agents pursuing individuals in parking lots and restaurants. Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott forced ICE agents off the grounds of a police department earlier today, calling their presence in the city “deeply concerning.”

Two Northwest Indiana state representatives, State Reps. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago) and Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond), are monitoring the situation in their respective communities. 

“I am deeply worried to see that ICE agents were attempting to use property of the City of Hammond to stage their terror operation,” Jackson said. “I am thankful to Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott for promptly making the public aware that ICE is present in the city and making sure they are not permitted to use Hammond facilities to intimidate members of our community. 

“What we have seen across the nation in terms of the treatment of immigrants, many of whom immigrated legally or have obtained their citizenship, has been cruel and downright inhumane. Just this week in Chicago, ICE agents have been deploying increasingly violent tactics such as using a Black Hawk helicopter to raid an apartment complex in the middle of the night, dragging children away from their families screaming and crying. Innocent men, women and children are being treated like violent criminals simply because of their appearance. I am devastated for all of the people in my community fearing for their safety and the safety of their friends and families.”

“Everyone deserves the right to due process,” Harris said. “When people can be picked up off the streets based on racial profiling, it is not only a gross injustice to them as an individual, but a signal to everyone that all our rights, too, can be violated with impunity. Across the country and right here in Indiana, immigrants have helped build and shape our communities. A poem inscribed on the Statue of Liberty, which has greeted countless immigrants to this nation, reads, ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.’ I truly believe that this sentiment is the great promise of America and, because of this belief, I can’t view these ICE raids as anything other than un-American."

See these resources from the National Immigration Law Center to know your rights if ICE is encountered in the community.

IBLC decries GOP attempts to rig Indiana elections

Today, Aug. 7, Gov. Mike Braun met with Vice President JD Vance regarding the possibility of a special session to redistrict Indiana's congressional maps. This meeting comes after President Donald Trump called for Republican-led states to redistrict to increase the number of GOP seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Indiana House Democrats were joined by Indiana Senate Democrats and U.S. Representatives André Carson and Frank J. Mrvan for a press conference this afternoon condemning any possibility of redistricting.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement regarding the possibility of new maps:

"The only two Democrats from Indiana serving in the federal government – Congressmen Frank J. Mrvan and André Carson – represent areas with some of the largest minority populations in the state. This GOP rush to redistrict congressional maps is not just a pathetic attempt to strip voters of their right to a free and fair election; it's a direct attack on Black and minority voters in Indiana.

"The Voting Rights Act of 1965 has been drastically stripped down over the last decade, making minority voters even more susceptible to be stifled by unfair and unjust changes to the election systems. I have little confidence in our governor and our Republican supermajority's will to consider the voices and circumstances of minority and disenfranchised Hoosiers in their rush to appease Donald Trump.

"I should also point out that a special session would cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars. This session, Indiana Republicans have created drastic cuts to SNAP, Medicaid and passed Senate Enrolled Act 1, which will raise local income taxes for many Hoosiers. In 2022, when we were called back for a special session to address abortion access, the two-week session cost taxpayers $240,000. Making taxpayers foot the bill for this is egregious by itself, but doing so in the wake of these benefit cuts and local tax hike is, frankly, a slap in the face to Hoosiers."

Gutting DEI programming will hurt Indiana for years to come

When Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order earlier this year banning diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practices and programs in state agencies, we in the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC) saw the writing on the wall. As a longtime lawmaker and chair of the IBLC, I know that nothing done in this building exists in a vacuum. This order from Gov. Braun signaled not only his willingness to comply with hyper-partisan D.C. culture wars, but his willingness to put politics over the lives and wellbeing of the Hoosiers he was elected to serve.

Now, just six months after his executive order, over 350 programs and positions throughout state agencies have been eliminated. These now-defunct programs include a Strategic Equity position within The Department of Child Services, a maternal health coordinator and disparities coordinator for the Indiana Department of Health and dozens of DEI training programs for Indiana educators. Beyond the classroom and doctors' offices, resources that were once available to parents who have adopted a child of a different race are now not offered to these families. This isn't about efficiency and it's not about "merit, excellence and innovation." It's an attempt to whitewash history and silence diverse voices.

We can't let that happen.

DEI isn't about giving any particular group a handout, it's about giving everyone a hand up by creating level playing fields and giving every Hoosier a fair shot at good health, a living wage and a high quality of life. The unfortunate reality is that, for many people, their race, gender, sexual orientation, ability and other factors have historically been a barrier to achieving these.

Indiana is one of the worst states in the nation for maternal mortality – an issue that disproportionally impacts Black women and women of color and we're terminating positions created to solve the problem. We're getting rid of protections against discrimination for renters and homeowners in a state plagued by a housing crisis. We're no longer going to provide our teachers with the resources they need to properly educate diverse classrooms while we're in the middle of a teacher shortage.

This isn't leadership; it's cruelty.

Not only will these actions negatively impact minority Hoosiers, it will hurt all Hoosiers for years to come. When our classrooms and hospitals are under resourced, when large swaths of people struggle to find affordable housing and when people don't have the resources they need to help themselves and their families thrive, all Hoosiers pay the price.

If we continue to go down this path, we'll see Indiana dip even lower in national rankings. Not only will the people already living and working in our state be impacted; it will actively discourage students, workers, families and businesses from bringing their talents to Indiana. Hoosiers deserve better than tired culture wars. The IBLC is calling on the governor and the Republican supermajority to focus their efforts on bringing us together, not creating more barriers that divide and weaken us.

IBLC condemns program cuts due to budgetary statute

On June 30, the Commission for Higher Education (CHE) announced that more than 400 degree programs across six of Indiana's universities will be either eliminated, suspended or merged due to a statute in the state budget. The statute set a minimum threshold of graduates for all degree programs. Impacted programs include special education, policy, mathematics, African American studies, religious studies and various disciplines of engineering.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement on behalf of the caucus:

"Beyond just getting a degree, the purpose of higher education is to help our students become more well-rounded and prepared for our workforce and to become a productive member of their community. Whether they receive a degree in mathematics, finance or a liberal arts program, students know what the best option is for them. The state government has no right to dictate what programs colleges can and cannot offer.

"I’m concerned not only about the students who will no longer be able to benefit from a well-rounded education through these programs, but also for the university staff currently working in the impacted departments. Educators are among our state's greatest resources, and this budget puts their livelihoods in jeopardy.

"It will be difficult to undo the harm that this biennial budget has created in many facets of Hoosiers' lives, but we in the IBLC look forward to working with our colleagues to mitigate these issues during the upcoming legislative session."

IBLC commemorates Juneteenth, calls for comprehensive American education

On June 19, 1865, African Americans enslaved in Galveston, Texas learned of the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery signed two years prior. Since then, June 19 – or "Juneteenth" – has been celebrated as a day of freedom throughout the country.

State Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-East Chicago), chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus (IBLC), issued the following statement in advance of the holiday:

"Today, 160 years later, Juneteenth is still as important as it was the first year it was celebrated. Juneteenth is a day to celebrate the liberation, joy and achievements of Black people. It is also a time to channel our efforts to overcome the barriers that still lie ahead of us.

"In 2025 – in our state of Indiana and across the nation – efforts are being made to undo the progress Black leaders have made for our community. From banning diversity, equity and inclusion practices in government agencies to shameful whitewashing of slavery from the second-in-command of Indiana, we don't have the luxury of disengaging. We need to be steadfast in ensuring that our history is not erased, our contributions are not minimized and that our voices are heard.

"This starts in the classroom. Teaching our children true American history – the good, the bad and the ugly – will help us ensure that the achievements of African Americans, the horrors we faced and contributions we're making today will not be forgotten.  Some of the steps our Republican supermajority took in the most recent session of the Indiana General Assembly actively work against this goal. We should never shy away from our history – the strength of our democracy depends on us confronting our past and working to create a future where all people are extended the promise of America.

"There's still a lot of work to be done to make Indiana a better state for all. We in the IBLC will continue to work to remove roadblocks and create an equal playing field for Hoosiers from all walks of life."