Ohio lawmakers have reached a significant agreement on a new congressional map that favors Republican candidates ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. This decision was made unanimously by the state’s bipartisan redistricting commission during a meeting on Friday.
Currently, Republicans occupy 10 out of 15 congressional seats in Ohio, and the new map will help maintain this majority while also giving the GOP an advantage in two traditionally blue districts. Ohio’s Constitution mandates that congressional maps be redrawn every decade, following the U.S. Census, through an independent commission. If the commission fails to achieve bipartisan support for a map, the proposal must be revised after four years.
The map drawn in 2021 lacked support from Democrats, leading to this new revision for the 2026 elections. Had lawmakers not reached an agreement by the October 31 deadline, the issue would have shifted to the Republican-dominated state legislature, potentially resulting in a significantly more Republican-favored map.
Democrats decided to cooperate with the Republicans in this redistricting process to avoid an even more extreme proposal that might have been pushed through the legislature. As a result of this compromise, Republicans are now positioned to benefit in about 12 of the 15 seats. This cooperative approach also helps to sidestep any potential referendum challenges that might arise against the new map.
Suzan DelBene, Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, expressed discontent with the arrangement, stating that the map is not fair for Ohio voters. However, she acknowledged the efforts of Democratic legislators in negotiating what she described as a preferable option compared to a more aggressive gerrymander.
Governor Mike DeWine expressed confidence in the new map, predicting a favorable outcome for Republicans and emphasizing the importance of settling the matter without resorting to legislation that could provoke backlash.
The updated congressional map could create challenges for Democratic representatives like Marcy Kaptur and Greg Landsman in their re-election bids, especially Kaptur, who narrowly secured her last election victory. Ohio’s recent redistricting reflects similar trends seen in other states, such as Missouri and Texas, where new maps have been implemented to bolster Republican representation ahead of the upcoming elections.
