Dems Likely To Sue Over Lopsided OH Redistricting

The Cincinnati Enquirer reports:

Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved a four-year map for state House and Senate districts over the objections of Democrats shortly after Wednesday’s 11:59 p.m. deadline. The 5-2 vote along partisan lines came after hours of back-and-forth negotiations broke down. The final map gives Republicans a veto-proof majority.

Republicans justified the maps by saying Ohioans favored GOP candidates between 54% – the average vote total for GOP candidates in recent statewide elections – and 81% – the percent of statewide races won by Republicans over the past decade – of the time.

Ohio Auditor Keith Faber, Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose and Gov. Mike DeWine [photo], all Republicans, expressed frustration with the mapmaking process but ultimately voted for the final product.

Read the full article.

“Fair Districts Ohio, which includes the League of Women Voters of Ohio and Common Cause Ohio, is reviewing the approved maps and considering next steps, including possible litigation and ballot initiatives in the future.” https://t.co/LGwvo5eY2V

— #WeBelongHere (@webelongherepac) September 16, 2021

?ALERT: The GOP-controlled Ohio Redistricting Commission approved new state legislative maps without support from its Democratic members. Since the vote was partisan, the new maps will only be in effect for 4 years and face potential legal challenges. https://t.co/IQ2quoFKNH

— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) September 16, 2021

Ohio voters overwhelmingly approved a constitutional amendment to rein in partisan gerrymandering. But now Republicans are moving ahead with a partisan map w/o Democratic votes https://t.co/TVnNr6iPsJ

— Sam Levine (@srl) September 16, 2021

Never forget that Ohioans collected thousands of signatures to get redistricting reform
Over 70% of Ohioans voted for redistricting reforms
We can and will do this again if we have to#fairmaps
-Mindy Hedges, at Ohio Redistricting Commission hearing on Thursday pic.twitter.com/fGSe0ctCr7

— FairDistrictsOhio (@OhFairDistricts) September 10, 2021

Looks like the Ohio state legislative redistricting process is going to produce an R-drawn gerrymander in effect for 4 years as opposed to 10. Though OH Supreme Court could intervene.

Cong. process different but could end up in similar place

— Kyle Kondik (@kkondik) September 16, 2021