COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The old saying goes: To the victor, go the spoils. When it comes to redistricting, that means the party in power redraws districts to remain in power. This time, however, lawmakers say it’s going to be different after voters approved a change to the process in 2018.
Previous redistricting efforts have resulted in strange-looking, and highly partisan, districts, including the duck-shaped district that Rep. Jim Jordan won, and the so-called “snake on the lake” along Lake Erie, which Rep. Marcy Kaptur was relegated to.
“Neighborhoods and communities are cut willy-nilly, with no thought about representation but instead is about guaranteeing a partisan outcome,” said Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters.
Ohio will lose a congressional seat because of lost population, going from 16 to 15.
Someone was not listening when Trump said: “Don’t Move, Don’t Sell Your House.”
Ohioans approved constitutional amendments in 2015 and 2018 that changed the way officials draw district boundaries, and this year marks the first test of those rules. Delays in 2020 U.S. Census data because of COVID-19 threatened to block lawmakers from meeting their deadlines, but an appeals court ruled Ohio could ask for those figures as soon as possible.
Lots more at The Dispatch
11 of the 16 Ohio’s congressmen are Republicans, the Democrats have 4 and one seat is vacant.
Trump won the 2020 presidential popular vote 53% – 45%. – Wiki
