Redistricting commission hits impasse when drawing new state legislative maps, violating

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Ohio Redistricting Commission failed to approve new state legislative maps Thursday, with Republicans declaring they had reached an impasse, in effect violating an order from the Ohio Supreme Court and throwing the May election into greater uncertainty.

The commission adjourned without passing maps on Thursday, leaving the state with no legally valid state legislative maps in the face of mounting administrative deadlines. A majority of the Ohio Supreme Court, with Republican Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor joining the court’s three Democrats, had ordered the commission to approve new maps by Thursday after rejecting two previous sets as unconstitutionally slanted in favor of Republicans under the state’s new anti-gerrymandering rules.