Ohio congressional map redistricting: Will it pass?
Ohio lawmakers will take a second crack at drawing a congressional map that adheres to voter-approved language to curb partisan gerrymandering.
But passing a map that appeases voters, Republicans and Democrats will be a tall order – if not a downright impossible task. If lawmakers can’t pass a map by Super Bowl Sunday, they will hand the line-drawing power to the Ohio Redistricting Commission, a group that has yet to approve a map that Republicans and Democrats agreed on.
“I think we all fully anticipate that this is something that’s going to come to the redistricting commission. I think even Republicans anticipate that,” said House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington. “So the question is: once it comes to the Ohio Redistricting Commission, will the process play out in a way that’s similar or better than what we saw with the state legislative maps?”
Ohio congressional maps:The Ohio Supreme Court just rejected a GOP-drawn congressional map. What happens next?
The Ohio Supreme Court, in a 4-3 decision, rejected the GOP-controlled Legislature’s first map, which could have given the GOP a 12-3 advantage in the state. That rejected map was drawn by Republican staff members with little to no Democratic input.
The court ruled that mapmakers unduly favored Republican candidates over Democratic ones. “When the dealer stacks the deck in advance, the house usually wins,” wrote Justice Michael Donnelly in the court’s majority opinion.
Hamilton County, for example, was divided into two GOP districts despite voting Democratic in many recent county and presidential elections. Advocates of redistricting reform say mapmakers can – and should – draw a map that gives Republicans an 8-7 or 9-6 advantage.
Fair Districts Ohio, a coalition of good government groups advocating for redistricting reform, proposed a model map that would give the GOP an 8-7 advantage in the state with three safe Democratic seats and six safe Republican ones. The map could serve as a starting point for lawmakers or if ignored, an exhibit in a future legal challenge.
“We are hoping, as the state Legislature tackles this challenge, that they will be very focused on the voters rather than on partisan interests,” said Catherine Turcer, executive director of Common Cause Ohio.
Will Ohio lawmakers pass a new map?
Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told reporters to expect “some action” on a congressional map on Monday or Tuesday – after Senate Republicans returned from a Florida fundraiser. Sen. Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, had introduced Senate Bill 286 as a placeholder.
Republicans won’t be able to do it alone. They’ll need votes from Democrats in the House. Why? Normally a bill takes effect after 90 days – too late for the scheduled May 3rd primary.
For a bill to take effect right away, 66% of lawmakers in each chamber need to approve it. Republicans control more than 66% of the seats in the Ohio Senate, but not in the Ohio House.
“If this is a map that is not something that achieves the 10-year map goal that doesn’t unduly favor one party, they will not get the votes needed for that emergency clause,” Russo said.
Bills can also take effect right away if they include an appropriation of money.
The normal rules for a map also apply: if the plan receives support from 60% of lawmakers and 33% of Democrats in each chamber, it could last for 10 years. Anything that passes short of that would last for four years.
Speaker Bob Cupp, R-Lima, wouldn’t say whether he’d prefer lawmakers or the commission to pass the maps.
“We’re going to be formulating a reasonable approach, and I am not sure which way would be best at this time,” he said.
Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.
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