What is the impact of Ohio redistrict delays on women seeking office in Ohio?

On Apr 6, 2022

The continued redistricting delays are harming Ohio’s women — both those running for office and those voting for women candidates.

Fairly-drawn districts are vital to making democracy work as it should. When districts are drawn to disenfranchise the people living in them, fair representation is impossible. The redistricting work must be completed as soon as possible to allow women seeking office in these districts sufficient campaign planning time.

Historically, Ohio has overwhelmingly voted for fairly-drawn districts.

Yet, the male majority on the Ohio Redistricting Commission is showing that they either don’t understand Ohio, or simply don’t care. Currently, almost 70% of the Ohio’s General Assembly are men.

More:Our View: DeWine, LaRose, Faber, Huffman, Cupp shouldn’t get away with slap to voters’ faces

Eighty-nine percent of Ohio’s federal representatives are men.

A hundred percent of Ohio’s statewide elected executive offices are held by men.

The Ohio Redistricting Commission itself is composed of almost all men (with the exception of Rep. Allison Russo, the Ohio House Minority Leader). And all the currently-designated map makers are men.

Women candidates are often challenging the incumbents. The commission’s delays take away precious planning time necessary to run a successful campaign against a sitting official.

As non-incumbents, women need to build awareness of their candidacy and their plan to solve Ohio’s issues. They need time to talk to voters and share their ideas. Women historically receive smaller donation amounts, which requires them to build a bigger network of donors.

They are less likely than men to fund their own campaigns. This means that it takes an incredible amount of time to communicate their message and fund their campaign, both of which are necessary to win.

Primary elections are critical. These elections decide who will ultimately be listed on the ballot. Regardless of party, primaries present a pivotal moment for us to whittle down the options. This sets the table for the November election. Ohio’s women voters need time to evaluate our choices.

More:Cowardly Republicans trying to ‘rig the system’ in Ohio, Columbus city attorney says

Much of this redistricting work is “insider politics.”

Gerrymandering focuses on those who are already “in the know.” For example, many wouldn’t know that the previous maps were skewed against electing women.

Women traditionally carry responsibilities of work and a larger proportion of breadwinner, home, and caregiver functions.

As noted in reporter Max Filby’s Dispatch article “COVID-19 hit women harder, Columbus-area leaders say,” this is likely even more true in the shadow of the COVID pandemic.

More:COVID-19 hit women harder, Columbus-area leaders say

Ohio women — who are almost 52% of Ohio’s eligible voters following the 2020 U.S. Census — need time to untangle the political posturing, understand the issues, and know who to vote for when a primary election comes around.

More:GOP OKs Ohio legislature maps tweaked from rejected ones; Democrats say process ‘hijacked’

They need time to juggle these responsibilities and become educated on the candidates. The redistricting commission is stealing this time from women voters. And therefore, yet again, benefiting themselves and political insiders.

We must have more time before Ohio’s primary election. Squeezing the time between fair maps and the primary benefits only incumbents. They have less work to do to reach voters and resources. And incumbents are overwhelmingly male.