Judges declare Ohio’s congressional map unconstitutional
ASSOCIATED PRESS
David Niven, a professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati held a map displaying the wide disparity of Ohio congressional district office locations, with orange locations representing areas whose office are found outside it’s own district’s bounds, Thursday, in Cincinnati. Congressional Democrats nationwide had a good year in 2018, gaining 40 seats. But Republicans held fast with 75% of Ohio’s House seats, despite winning only 52% of Ohio’s congressional vote total.
CINCINNATI >> A federal court has ruled that Ohio’s congressional map is unconstitutional and has ordered a new one be drawn for the 2020 elections.
A three-judge panel of the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati ruled unanimously today that district boundaries were manipulated for partisan gain by Republican mapmakers and violate voters’ rights to democratically select their representatives. The ruling blocks Ohio from holding another election under the current map.
The ruling is likely to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Voters’ rights and Democratic groups who sued Ohio Republican officials said redistricting completed after the 2010 Census yielded a statewide map that has produced an unbending 12-4 Republican advantage in Ohio’s delegation. Republicans said the map was drawn with bipartisan support.
