Speaker Mike Johnson is expected to huddle via conference call with Indiana House Republicans this weekend ahead of their upcoming state House session to redraw congressional maps, according to two people familiar with the planning and an invitation viewed by POLITICO.
The meeting, ahead of next week’s session, represents an escalation of Johnson’s involvement in mid-cycle redistricting, a process driven by the White House: He has routinely said it’s an issue for individual states and one in which he has no direct involvement.
House Republicans are expected to talk with Johnson on a conference call at 1 p.m. Saturday before convening on Dec. 1.
A spokesperson for Johnson did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
POLITICO reported last week that Johnson called GOP Indiana Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray last Wednesday, after Bray, whose caucus has largely resisted redistricting, said Senate Republicans would not convene to advance new maps.
In the call, Johnson expressed the importance of holding Republicans’ thin majority in the House ahead of the midterms, according to Bray. Indiana Republicans are weighing redrawing the 1st and 7th congressional districts, potentially yielding Johnson two additional seats.
But earlier this week, Bray reversed course, saying his caucus would make a final decision on redistricting when they are expected to reconvene on Dec. 8.
Multiple Indiana Republicans close to the process, and granted anonymity by POLITICO to discuss a matter that has resulted in personal threats to their safety, said they believe the Senate is still a handful of votes away from having support for the matter.
