The glow emanating from the Oval Office right now can probably be seen from the International Space Station, it's so bright. The source? President Trump’s enormous grin after Indiana Republicans chose a new state Senate president pro tempore, replacing the man who betrayed him on redistricting.
In a Tuesday afternoon Truth Social post, Trump sent hearty congratulations to state Sen. Chris Garten after he was unanimously chosen by his GOP colleagues to replace Rodric Bray as pro tem.
Trump noted that Garten had led the effort to primary all Indiana state Senate Republicans who had not supported the president's efforts to redistrict Indiana's congressional map ahead of the 2026 midterms. Six Republican senators who defied Trump on redistricting were subsequently bounced in their primary races back in May.
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 18, 2026
Congratulations to Indiana State Senator Chris Garten, who I was proud to ENDORSE, on being unanimously voted by his colleagues to be the next Senate President Pro Tempore for the State Senate of Indiana! This finishes off my working against Political Leaders in the State Senate who let our Country down. If they did what they should have done, and what every other State did, as requested, we would have had two more seats in the House of Representatives! Chris led this effort for me, along with Trevor De Vries, Brian Schmutzler, Blake Fiechter, Tracey Powell, Paula Copenhaver, and Michelle Davis, who all beat their Opponents. Thank you also to Brenda Wilson. She’ll be back next time where there won’t be two Candidates running with the exact same name, a dirty trick! Rod Bray should resign from Office because he has no chance of winning. Indiana was the only State this happened with, and I won it six times, in LANDSLIDES, including with the Highest Vote in the History of the State. Remember, Bray was responsible for us not having TWO additional Seats, for the Republican Party, in the House of Representatives.
The bad blood dates back to last year, when Trump pushed Republican-led states to redraw their congressional maps to help protect the GOP's razor-thin House majority. The Indiana state House approved the plan, but it died in the Senate in December after 21 Republicans joined all 10 Democrats to defeat it, 31-19. Bray was among the Republicans who voted no.
Trump had warned the holdouts that there would be political consequences, and he followed through on that by backing primary challengers against most of the senators who opposed the map. Garten played a key role in helping take out the dissenters.
The fallout eventually caught up with Bray, and he announced last month that he would step aside as Senate president pro tempore, making way for Garten to take on the role.
Garten was raring to go after being elected pro tem, saying, "Leading this caucus is a profound honor, and my commitment to my colleagues and the people of Indiana is simple: unapologetic conservatism, decisive action and absolute transparency."
Once again, Trump got his guy. Oh, and he had some advice for Rodric Bray: resign.
Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.
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