Breaking: DeWine convenes first meeting on redistricting
Time's running out to stay within constitutional framework for fair elections
COLUMBUS — The first sign of life at the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s website in four years is a posting there last week: Official Notice of the Convening of the Reconstituted Commission.
Ohio’s contentious redistricting saga moves into a crucial phase tomorrow morning, with Gov. Mike DeWine’s announcement. It marks the start of the final push — this time around — to draw new and fair congressional maps under tight constitutional deadlines, a task that the state Legislature failed to complete last month.
To date, the only new maps introduced so far are from Democratss:
Senate Bill 250 (Antonio): Sponsored by Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (D-Lakewood), who serves on the Commission.
House Bill 442 (Isaacsohn): Sponsored by House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati), also a Commission member.
The Democrats’ map, which was introduced to the legislature last month, is touted as a “fair, constitutional map”designed to reflect the statewide partisan preferences of Ohio voters and minimize the splitting of counties and cities. To date, Republican legislative leaders have not publicly advanced their own proposed map for the ORC to consider.
“We are halfway through the month of October, and while the Ohio Redistricting Commission has finally been called, we have just over two weeks to fulfill our constitutional obligation to deliver a fair, bipartisan congressional map,” House Minority Leader Isaacsohn said on Thursday. “Ohio Democrats have been ready for months with a fair, constitutional, and public proposal. Republicans are running out the clock to jam a gerrymandered 13-2 map that eliminates Ohioans ability to vote on Republicans’ record of higher costs and broken promises. Ohioans deserve better than political games that hurt families’ budgets.”
The ORC’s inaugural meeting this time around is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday (Oct. 21) in the Senate Finance Committee Hearing Room at the Ohio Statehouse.
Two weeks until deadline
The ORC takes up the mapmaking process after the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting missed the September 30 deadline to pass a new map with bipartisan support. According to the Ohio Constitution, the seven-member Commission now has until Oct. 31 to approve a map with four affirmative votes, including the support of both Democratic members. Failure to meet this deadline would send the process back to the legislature, where a simple majority could adopt a map in November, risking another partisan stalemate and a four-year map.
The state Legislature and the ORC failed three years ago to follow and fulfill the mandates in state law. The current redistricting cycle is required because the map used for the 2024 election was only temporary, having been passed without the required bipartisan support in 2022. The same 4-year redistricting cycle could happen again if lawmakers and state leaders fail to reach a consensus.
Order of business: Maps and bills
Governor DeWine will formally open the meeting, which will include the administration of the Oath of Office for appointed members, a roll call, and the formal recognition of the co-chairpersons.
Following the initial formalities, the Commission will turn its attention to the core issue: the consideration of congressional maps. Specifically listed for review are the following Democratic proposals.
Commission membership
The seven-member commission is comprised of five Republican and two Democratic members, including three statewide executive officeholders and four legislative appointees:
Governor Mike DeWine
Auditor Keith Faber
Secretary of State Frank LaRose
Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (Co-Chair)
House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn
Two additional legislative appointees (one from the Senate, one from the House)
The meeting will be publicly viewable, and advocates demanding “fair maps” are expected to attend the Statehouse as the pressure mounts for a constitutional, long-term solution to Ohio’s complex redistricting challenges.