A Republican state senator from Indiana announced Friday, November 28, 2025, he will oppose efforts to redraw the state’s congressional maps after President Donald Trump used an ableist slur to describe Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz on Thanksgiving.
State Sen. Michael Bohacek, who has a daughter with Down syndrome, wrote on Facebook that Trump’s language crossed a line that cost him a crucial vote on redistricting. His announcement comes as Trump and his allies have pressured Republican-controlled state legislatures across the country to redraw congressional district boundaries ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
“I have been an unapologetic advocate for people with intellectual disabilities since the birth of my second daughter,” Bohacek wrote in his Friday post. “Those of you that don’t know me or my family might not know that my daughter has Down Syndrome.”
The senator’s statement came one day after Trump posted on Truth Social that Minnesota’s Walz was “seriously retarded,” using a term widely considered offensive and derogatory toward people with intellectual disabilities. The president’s post was part of a broader message about immigration policy following a shooting of two National Guard members in Washington, D.C.
Bohacek, who represents District 8 in Michiana Shores, Indiana, said the president’s choice of words would have direct consequences. He noted this was not the first time Trump had used such insulting and derogatory references.
“I will be voting NO on redistricting, perhaps he can use the next 10 months to convince voters that his policies and behavior deserve a congressional majority,” Bohacek stated in his Facebook post.
The Indiana legislature is scheduled to reconvene in December to consider a redistricting measure. The effort is part of a broader Republican strategy to gain additional seats in the U.S. House of Representatives as the party aims to retain control of Congress.
Trump has aggressively pushed for several states to pursue partisan redistricting, despite the practice typically occurring only once per decade following the Census. The president has applied particular pressure on Indiana lawmakers, even threatening primary election challenges for Republican state senators who oppose the redistricting effort.
In mid-November, Trump posted on Truth Social that any Republican voting against the redistricting plan should be primaried, declaring they should “DO THEIR JOB, AND DO IT NOW!” He added: “If not, let’s get them out of office.”
The redistricting push in Indiana appeared dead earlier this month when state Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray announced on Nov. 14 that his chamber lacked the votes to support it. However, Bray reversed course and said the Senate would vote on whatever proposal the House sends their way. House Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to join a Saturday conference call with Indiana lawmakers to discuss the issue.
Bohacek had not previously made a public statement on the redistricting effort before Friday’s announcement.
The redistricting battle has become increasingly contentious nationwide. Texas approved new congressional maps in August that could help Republicans add as many as five seats in the 2026 midterms. In response, California passed a redistricting measure in November designed to allow Democrats to gain the same number of seats.
Minnesota Gov. Walz responded to Trump’s insult with a brief message on social media, writing: “Release the MRI results.” The comment referenced questions about Trump’s cognitive health.
The use of ableist language has drawn criticism throughout Trump’s political career. Disability advocates have long pushed to eliminate such terms from public discourse, noting they perpetuate harmful stereotypes and diminish the dignity of people with intellectual disabilities.
Republicans currently control both the Indiana legislature and the governor’s mansion. Any redistricting effort would require passage by both the state House and Senate before going to the governor for signature.
Bohacek’s opposition could prove significant as Republican leaders in the state Senate have cautioned there may not be enough support to enact a congressional redistricting plan. His public stance, tied directly to the president’s rhetoric, highlights the tension between national political pressure and local concerns about Trump’s behavior.
The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Bohacek’s statement or the senator’s connection between the president’s language and his vote on redistricting.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, both major political parties are grappling with redistricting questions in multiple states. The outcomes could significantly impact control of the House of Representatives, where Republicans aim to maintain their majority despite historical trends showing the president’s party typically loses seats during midterm elections.