A Republican state senator in deep red Indiana announced Friday that he will be refusing to vote in favor of the state’s redistricting effort — which could prove decisive in swinging the balance of the U.S. House of Representatives come 2026 — because President Trump called Minnesota Governor Tim Walz in an X post.
In a fiery X post sent late Thanksgiving night, President Trump announced plans to halt all immigration — legal and illegal — from third-world countries, as well as individuals who harbor negative views towards the United States and its people. Midway through the post, Trump had harsh words for leaders in deep blue Minnesota, including Governor Walz and U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) over widespread issues with the state’s sizable Somali population.
“The seriously retarded Governor of Minnesota, Tim Walz, does nothing, either through fear, incompetence, or both, while the worst ‘Congressman/woman’ in our Country, Ilhan Omar, always wrapped in her swaddling hijab, and who probably came into the U.S.A. illegally in that you are not allowed to marry your brother,” the president wrote.
Hours later, Indiana State Senator Michael Bohacek announced in a Facebook post that he will not be backing the state’s Trump-backed redistricting effort — which could net the Republican Party two additional seats in the pivotal midterm elections — because Trump said mean words.
“Many of you have asked my position on redistricting. I have been an unapologetic advocate for people with intellectual disabilities since the birth of my second daughter. Those of you that don’t know me or my family might not know that my daughter has Down Syndrome,” the Republican lawmaker wrote.
“This is not the first time our president has used these insulting and derogatory references and his choices of words have consequences. 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’s post was met with fury from the GOP base, which, according to months of consistent polling data, is united behind President Trump.
“What a freaking child,” said Florida’s Voice contributor Eric Daugherty. “Primary this weak ‘Republican.’ Outrageous. Grandstanding when our nation is at stake? Caving to Gavin Newsom and the Democrat Country-Destroyers is your play because you’re OFFENDED?”
Others pointed out that Bohacek was previously arrested for drunk driving after being stopped while three-times over the legal limit.
Bohacek (R-Michiana Shores) was involved in a drunk driving incident in Michigan City, where a witness reported seeing him drinking from an open container and stumbling out of his vehicle in a Panda Express parking lot before he drove off in his Dodge Charger. Police pulled him over for speeding at 62 mph in a 45 mph zone on U.S. 20, and a blood test at a hospital revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.28%—over three times the legal limit of 0.08%
Due to legislative immunity under the Indiana Constitution, which shields lawmakers from arrest during the General Assembly session (except for treason, felonies, or breaches of peace), Bohacek was not arrested on the spot and was instead driven home.
Formal charges, including operating while intoxicated with endangerment and a BAC of 0.15% or higher, were filed in May 2025 after the session ended. In August 2025, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to a single misdemeanor OWI charge, with the case resolving without further public details on sentencing.
Bohacek’s vote could prove divisive in deciding the balance of power in the House next November, as a number of blue state’s have further gerrymandered their maps in order to “counter” Republican-led redistricting efforts. A number of Republican states — including Texas, Missouri and North Carolina — have opted to pursue redistricting in order to counter census “errors” that largely undercounted red states and rewarded unearned reputation to Democrat-controlled states.
