Ohio redistricting thread

[Smash255]

If they're going to draw a D-trending Biden +8 seat, why not just draw the fair Cinci configuration? Cincinatti and Warren was the most obvious flaw of the first map, but they basically just kept it.

Because this isn't a serious proposal. In the games of state power, it appears to be more beneficial to recognizably die on a hill preserving incumbent seats - Chabot's and Jordan's for example - rather than cooperate with the court and be the one who has to tell some members they may need to go home or run against each other. Far more simple to get an outsider from the court to do that move.

I know it's not a serious proposal, but if it isn't, why are they even changing the Cincinnati + Warren seat. They kept it ugly but made the partisanship worse for them.

  By drawing a true Hamilton district seat would be gone, so they attempt to placate the court (which we all know this is headed) by arguing they made the Cincy seat more Democratic without likely losing the seat.  Chabot is entrenched enough that he likely holds a Biden +8 seat this year, and  would have a decent chance of winning in 2024 even if it is a similar environment to 2020

[Smash255]

So when is the OHSC expected to rule on the new congressional map? This should be an open-and-shut case given the criteria already laid out in the previous ruling.

Nobody??

At this point I think everyone has lost track of where we are.

The federal judge the GOP tried to get involved in the legislative process refused their appeal, at least until emergency is closer at hand. I think that is where we are at.

But what about the OHSC? Weren't they supposed to review the newly passed congressional map?

I thought initially that as well, but it appears unlike in North Carolina where the court had to approve the new maps, in this case the court simply required new maps to be drawn, but did not have to approve them before it takes effect.  Now, whether another lawsuit is pending or if they will rule on the current maps remains to be seen.

[Smash255]

Given Pieman's claims above, DeWine has a strong motive for forcing through a map if true.

I can't believe DeWine is disfavored. Finally a Republican who is normal, appealing to conservatives while also not a total lunatic, and the right wants him out in favor of a total lunatic. The boomers can't keep getting away with this.

This is his problem with the base.

[Smash255]

https://twitter.com/jpelzer/status/1504495062817787910?s=20&t=xZU0kT801a-aby...

Mind = Blown

In all seriousness, this is more of a breakthrough than the title betrays. For the past months the three GOP statewide officeholders have by all reports been passive and let the two legislative leaders do the talking and mapping. If the DeWine and the other statewide officials team up with the dems to do something like Incumbent Protection with  decent number of new Dem seats, then the map would likely be accepted.

No it wouldn't.  The new map follows a 45 54 split but the court now made up a term of too many D districts are competitive despite the fact this has to be mathematically true. Even the D maps have more competitive  D seats.

From the order it didn't seem like the courts issue wasn't that there wasn't an even split with the competitive districts.  Simply having more Democratic competitive seats may have passed.   What the court seemed to take issue with is how extreme the disparity was.     The fact that the commission made it obvious there was no intention of trying something bi-partisan, held no meetings until the last minute, etc likely didn't help either.