Hundreds of critics gathered outside the Indiana Governor’s Residence on Aug. 7 to show their disapproval with national Republican leadership, who have discussed the idea of holding a special session to redistrict Indiana.
Many of those outside of the residence had previously protested Vice President JD Vance’s visit to the Statehouse earlier in the day, where he held a meeting with Governor Mike Braun behind closed doors.
Braun told reporters as he left the meeting that it went “pretty good” and “covered a wide array of topics.” He said redistricting was a topic of conversation, but when asked if any agreement had been reached, he only said, “We listened.”
But those waving signs outside the Governor’s Residence in north Indianapolis felt differently about the meeting.
Elizabeth Buschmann of Carmel holds up a sign toward cars Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, outside of the Indiana Governor’s residence on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. Around 300 stood on the sidewalk to object to the idea of a special session for redistricting in Indiana.
“The purpose of (Vance’s) visit was to make sure that there are no democratic seats in the 2026 election, and that Donald Trump is assured of election because he’s rigged it already,” said Lamont Hulse, an organizer with Indivisible Central Indiana.
By 5:30 p.m., about 300 people lined Meridian Street, many holding signs like “save our seats,” “stop the steal,” and “no votes for sale.”
Hulse believed it was important for Hoosiers to share their voices about this issue.
“I am outraged at this. These are not the Hoosier values I was brought up with,” Hulse said. “The Hoosier values of fairness, of equity, of letting people’s voice count, respecting your neighbors, and of not running over people’s rights.”
More: What Gov. Mike Braun said about redistricting in Indiana following meeting with JD Vance
‘This is not the Indiana I remember.’
Mike Cabat (left) and Susan Bettis greet cars passing by Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, outside of the Indiana Governor’s residence on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. Around 300 stood on the sidewalk to object to the idea of a special session for redistricting in Indiana.
As lifelong Hoosiers, Susan Bettis and Mike Cabat felt embarrassed when they learned intentions of redrawing congressional boundaries had surfaced in Indiana.
Traditionally, in Indiana, state leaders don’t consider redistricting efforts until the U.S. Census Bureau collects its data at the start of the decade.
“It’s a blatant power grab that’s happening right in the middle of the decade,” Bettis said.
Bettis and Cabat remembered a time in Indiana when it felt like both state Democrats and Republicans could work together and create legislation that benefited “all Hoosiers and not just the ones that voted for them.”
Patricia Ray of Westfield holds up a sign toward cars driving by Thursday, Aug. 7, 2025, outside of the Indiana Governor’s residence on North Meridian Street in Indianapolis. Around 300 stood on the sidewalk to object to the idea of a special session for redistricting in Indiana.
A prayer
While dozens of adults were holding up signs and chanting, Slone Young, 6, and her younger sister were playing hide and seek around the trees at the edge of the governor’s residence.
An Indiana State Police officer took notice of the two girls playing in the yard and began to walk toward the children, before turning his attention to scold some adults who walked onto the property.
When the officer stopped paying attention to them, Young knelt in front of a tree and began to pray. After completing her prayer, she turned to the Governor’s Residence and made the sign of the cross toward the building.
She then ran to her mother, holding her sister’s hands.
When asked what she prayed for, Young said, “That’s between God and me.”
Noe Padilla is a Public Safety reporter for IndyStar. Contact him at npadilla@indystar.com, follow him on X @1NoePadilla or Bluesky @noepadilla.bsky.social.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Hundreds protest against redistricting outside Indiana Gov. Residence
