Hours before the Indiana State Senate yesterday rejected (19-31) President Trump’s push for a redistricted congressional map designed to give Republicans extra seats in the House, Heritage Action — the advocacy arm of The Heritage Foundation — encouraged Republicans to “Pass the Map.”
The official X account of Heritage Action wrote: “President Trump has made it clear to Indiana leaders: if the Indiana Senate fails to pass the map, all federal funding will be stripped from the state. Roads will not be paved. Guard bases will close. Major projects will stop. These are the stakes and every NO vote will be to blame. #PassTheMap”
Tim Chapman, co-founder of Heritage Action, and former Chief of Staff at the Heritage Foundation, replied: “I loved my time at Heritage Action and was proud to be a co-founder of what was such an important part of the conservative movement. So I say this with respect and sadness: There is nothing conservative about backing threats to a state’s federal funding because it declines to push a President’s own political agenda – that is unconstitutional and coercive to states. What would conservatives say if a Democrat threatened states federal funding to redraw congressional maps?”
I loved my time at Heritage Action and was proud to be a co-founder of what was such an important part of the conservative movement. So I say this with respect and sadness:
There is nothing conservative about backing threats to a state’s federal funding because it declines to… https://t.co/V3hvwtqwk2
— Tim Chapman (@TimChapman) December 11, 2025
Note: Chapman is currently a Senior Advisor at Advancing American Freedom, a public policy advocacy organization founded by former Vice President Mike Pence.
Former Republican and political pundit Fred Wellman replied to Heritage Action: “As it turns out openly blackmailing legislators doesn’t always work. Indiana said ‘no’ but our Missouri Republicans don’t have any of that courage to show. So, we citizens will fight for ourselves. Congratulations, Indiana and too bad…so sad Heritage. What a pathetic joke they have become.”
As it turns out openly blackmailing legislators doesn’t always work. Indiana said ‘no’ but our Missouri Republicans don’t have any of that courage to show. So, we citizens will fight for ourselves. Congratulations, Indiana and too bad…so sad Heritage. What a pathetic joke they… pic.twitter.com/3DSICyByYO
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) December 11, 2025
Wellman, who is currently running as a Democrat for Congress in Missouri’s 2nd congressional district, added: “Thanks so much for the ad for my campaign. Keep up the great work showing everyone exactly who you are. Screw our National Guard so you can keep power. We see you.”
When Trump complained about Republican State Senator Rod Bray of Indiana and said “I’m sure he’ll go down” and promised to support anyone who runs against him, Wellman called Trump’s condemnation, “Pure mafia.”
Pure mafia. No more giving into bullies. https://t.co/lF4hzK8A2f
— Fred Wellman (@FPWellman) December 11, 2025