As Indiana State Rep. Pat Boy announced her retirement Tuesday, the possibility of mid-census redistricting weighed heavily on her mind as it could be the first thing her successor would have to vote on.
In a separate announcement Wednesday, Boy, D-Michigan City, said she endorses La Porte County Councilman Randy Novak to replace her. A caucus will be held to select her replacement.
Boy, who was first elected as state representative in 2018, said she decided to retire to spend more time with family. But, Boy said she also decided to retire so that her successor has time to learn the ins and outs of the legislature.
“Whoever is going to replace me, I want to be able to give them some advice and some guidance and get them in early enough that they can figure out what’s going on,” Boy said.
President Donald Trump and his administration have been pushing Republican states to redistrict Congressional maps mid-census, which strays from the constitutional procedure of redistricting after a census, to increase Republicans’ majority in Congress.
In August, Vice President J.D. Vance came to Indianapolis and Republican legislators went to Washington D.C. to discuss redistricting the state’s congressional maps.
Gov. Mike Braun signaled in a Fort Wayne radio interview last month that it’s likely he’ll call a special session in November for redistricting. The decision is up to the legislature, but many legislators have seemingly voiced their support of redistricting, Braun said.
Indiana could also face consequences from the Trump administration if it doesn’t redistrict, Braun said.
“I wanted it to be where it wasn’t forced upon our legislature, have our leaders talk to their own caucus members. Some have already changed their point of view when they look at what good comes from it,” Braun said. “If we try to drag our feet as a state on it, probably, we’ll have consequences of not working with the Trump Administration as tightly as we should.”
After participating in a town hall Saturday to discuss redistricting, Boy said the majority of people in the room did not think that redistricting Indiana ahead of the mid-census was a good idea.
“I think the state is looking at doing everything the president wants as far as redistricting,” Boy said. “It’s a blatant power grab, and it’s just because the president wants it.”
As Republican state legislators consider redistricting, Boy said they have to remember the state code and constitution, which outline redistricting procedures following a census.
“It’s frustrating that they think they can do this without having a census. They can’t get the census fast enough to do this,” Boy said.
Boy was elected to the Michigan City Common Council in 2004. She was encouraged to run by a group of residents after she helped them protect a wetland, according to a release.
She served on the Michigan City Common Council through 2018, when she was elected to the state legislature, Boy said.
Serving as a Democratic legislator amid the Republican supermajority was sometimes “like climbing Mount Everest” and other times it was “like walking uphill,” Boy said. The key, she said, was to find Republican legislators to support her bills.
Boy said the 2021 legislative session was memorable because legislators met in the government center so they could be 6 feet apart amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It was a hard session,” Boy said. “You couldn’t be close to anybody. Everything was either by email, or Zoom meeting, or text or yell across the room.”
During her tenure, Boy said she proposed multiple environmental bills related to coal ash that weren’t heard by the legislature. Boy said she wished that the legislature would’ve heard those bills.
Boy said she was most proud of her work in the 2025 session because two of her bills advanced through the legislature and were signed into law.
House Enrolled Act 1376, which expands access to opioid overdose reversal medication, and House Enrolled Act 1380, which exempts motor-driven cycles and lightweight electric vehicles from supplemental fees, were authored by Boy and signed into law.
“I was so happy. I’ve never had that happen before,” Boy said.
State Sen. Rodney Pol, D-Chesterton, said Boy told him Saturday at the redistricting town hall that she would be announcing her retirement. Boy leaving is bittersweet, Pol said, because she deserves to retire but the legislature is losing a member who fought for Hoosiers.
“She taught me a whole lot, and I’ll always appreciate that,” Pol said. “On the other hand, I’m happy that she’s doing it on her own terms and she’s going to retire in her own way.”
Pol said he worked with Boy on multiple bills, on issues ranging from coal ash to education.
“She’s always done a very good job on the House side helping bills that I’ve sent over there across the line,” Pol said.
House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta, D-Fort Wayne, said in a statement that he enjoyed working with Boy over the last 7 years.
“During that time, she fought for vulnerable Hoosiers, worked to protect Indiana’s environment and enhanced public health and safety throughout our state,” GiaQuinta said. “While House Democrats will miss serving alongside Pat, she has certainly earned a relaxing retirement with her family.”
Indiana Democratic Party Chair Karen Tallian said in a statement Boy “has been a critical part of the fights for” environmental, union and healthcare issues. Tallian highlighted the two bills that Boy authored that became law.
“Her drive and work on issues like these will be missed, but we thank her for her commitment to fighting for these critical Democratic values,” Tallian said.
Boy’s last day will be Oct. 17. A caucus will be held within 30 days to select her replacement.
In an Indiana Democratic Party statement, Boy said she endorses Randy Novak, La Porte County Councilman, to be her successor.
Novak, who has served on the council for 11 years, is a broker associate with Century 21 Circle, according to the release. He previously served as the Michigan City Fire Department Chief.
“In all Randy’s public services, he has focused on fiscal responsibility and improving the quality of life for his community,” according to the release.
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