Primary elections in Ohio, Indiana offer latest temperature check on Trump popularity

Voter parking only signs are seen ahead of a rally for Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Dr. Amy Acton, at the Early Vote Center on April 28 in Cincinnati. Jon Cherry/ hide caption toggle caption Jon Cherry/ Two very different decisions Republicans made about gerrymandering will be on display in Tuesday's primary contests in Indiana and Ohio. After an effort to redraw maps in Indiana failed last year, President Trump and his political operation now seek to oust incumbent Republican state senators who helped defeat the plan. In Ohio, new maps were required by law since multiple previous versions were struck down by the courts or passed without bipartisan support since 2021. The current map has minor changes to the state's existing boundaries – and not all of them in favor of Republicans. These primaries come the week after a Supreme Court decision that weakened Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act , and could pave the way for Republican-led states to eliminate majority-minority districts in the South as part of a larger redistricting arms race that has upended politics for 2026 and beyond. At the same time, Trump's unpopular second term agenda and record-low approval ratings has led to competitive races this fall for governor and U.S. Senate in Ohio, with Democrats seeing a potential path to regain control of that chamber running through the state. Here are four things to watch in Tuesday's contest. …