Ohio redistricting commission optimistic of bipartisan congressional map

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Ohio Redistricting Commission convened Tuesday morning at the Statehouse, tasked with passing a new congressional district map by Oct. 31.

Democrats and Republicans have been working to come up with new boundaries for Ohio’s 15 districts, and both parties have different ideas of what a fair map means for the state.

During the hearing, the Commission was officially established.

The Ohio Redistricting Commission is made up of seven state leaders, including Democrat and Republican lawmakers, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, Auditor Keith Faber and Secretary of State Frank LaRose.

Democrats had another chance Tuesday to share their map proposal, which would create eight Republican-leaning and seven Democrat-leaning congressional districts. Republicans have called this gerrymandering but have not yet proposed a map.

Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville) said discussions are ongoing.

“We’re not going to just, you know, show all of our notes in public while you're trying to have discussions between legislative leaders about what they would and wouldn't support,” Stewart said.

Democratic leaders said they were disappointed by the lack of deliberation from Republicans during the meeting.

“We're not doing our job right now to work together to come up with a bipartisan congressional map for the people of Ohio,” Ohio Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) said.

This is the second phase of the redistricting process after the General Assembly did not pass a map with bipartisan support by their Sept. 30 deadline.

Democrats said Ohio is about 45% blue, while Republicans argued that recent elections show this is a very red state.

“We’d like to see a map that reflects the fact that Republicans have won 19 of the last 20 statewide elections, that we have been increasing our vote total in every presidential election over the last 10 years, and that is certainly a factor in deciding how this goes,” Stewart said.

“The majority party has gone for broke,” Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) said. “In Ohio, what that would look like is a 13-2 map in a state that is much closer to 55-45 than anything else. Republican, Democrat.”

If the Commission can’t come up with a map both parties support by Oct. 31, then the process moves to phase three, where only a simple majority of state representatives and senators is needed to pass a new congressional map.

Democrats argue that the state Constitution says a map with support from both sides should be passed before the deadline, but GOP leaders said the process has three phases for a reason.

“If I give you a menu and I say you have the option, you know, you shall choose fish, you shall choose chicken, or you shall choose steak. Choosing steak is not a failure to choose fish,” Stewart said.

“Folks who came from all over the state to be here today expected to see more,” Antonio said. “They expected more deliberation. They expected more consideration of the fact that the clock is ticking, and yet, here we are.”

Lawmakers said there will be another Commission meeting before the Oct. 31 deadline.

Both parties have said they are optimistic they can come to an agreement, but it may be unlikely at this point.