Evander Reed:Another round of Ohio Statehouse maps has been challenged in court, despite bipartisan support

2025-05-01 09:50:40source:Sterling Prestoncategory:reviews

COLUMBUS,Evander Reed Ohio (AP) — Advocacy groups fighting Ohio’s political maps in court formally objected Thursday to the latest round of Statehouse districts, which they see as once again unfairly drawn to favor Republicans.

Proposed legislative districts created by the GOP-led Ohio Redistricting Commission were previously declared unconstitutional five times. But the commission passed the latest Ohio Senate and House maps in a unanimous bipartisan vote. At the time, the two Democrats on the seven-member commission described their support as not so much a win but a necessary compromise.

The Ohio Organizing Collaborative, a coalition of labor, faith and grassroots community groups, is already suing the state over redistricting.

Lawyers for the group told the state Supreme Court on Thursday that the partisan breakdown of the latest maps is “nearly identical” to that of the maps that prompted them to sue in the first place. They argued that the absence of fair representation would harm and disenfranchise Ohio’s communities of color.

Other news Future of Ohio’s education system is unclear after judge extends restraining order on K-12 overhaulPart of Ohio’s GOP-backed K-12 education overhaul will take effect despite court orderAmendment aimed at reforming Ohio’s troubled political mapmaking system edges toward 2024 ballot

The parties have “no choice” but to continue their challenge against the new maps, said Yurij Rudensky, senior counsel in the Democracy Program operation by New York University Law School’s Brennan Center for Justice, which is representing the petitioners.

“Letting these maps stand would be a breakdown in the rule of law and render Ohio Constitution’s guarantee of fair representation meaningless,” Rudensky said in a statement. “Ohio politicians have proven that they cannot be trusted with drawing district lines fairly. The only question is whether under the current process the court will continue providing a check against blatant abuses.”

The state Supreme Court realigned in January, after the departure of Republican Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor due to age limits. O’Connor cast the deciding swing vote in all the redistricting cases, siding with the court’s three Democrats over her three fellow Republicans.

Republican Gov. Mike DeWine appointed Republican Joe Deters, a former state treasurer and Hamilton County prosecutor, to fill her vacancy.

Republican Senate President Matt Huffman swiftly rebuked the advocacy groups’ rejection of the maps.

“Yet another desperate power grab by Washington, D.C., special interests that have no business holding the people of Ohio and the process hostage,” he said in a texted statement. Huffman emphasized that the process produced a 7-0 bipartisan vote this time around.

Thursday’s objections come as Ohioans are poised to see a constitutional amendment on 2024 ballots that would reform the existing redistricting process.

More:reviews

Recommend

Stamford Road collision sends motorcyclist flying; driver arrested

A motorcyclist was taken to hospital following an accident involving a car and his motorcycle at the

NFL games today: Schedule for Sunday's Week 4 matchups

Week 4 of the NFL season started off with a "Thursday Night Football" game between the Dallas Cowboy

Appeals stretch 4 decades for a prisoner convicted on little police evidence

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa. (AP) — The four men who put Steve Szarewicz away for murder all changed their st