New Congressional Map Gives GOP Bump In Two Districts Ahead of Friday Vote
The Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted a new GOP-drawn congressional map as its “working map” without objection Thursday, setting it up for approval Friday.
The new map would make two districts currently held by Democrats slightly more favorable for Republicans ahead of next year’s midterm elections. According to reports ahead of Thursday’s commission hearing, Ohio Democrats decided to accept the new proposal rather than risk Republicans shoving an even more partisan gerrymander through the GOP-controlled General Assembly.
While drafts of the new map leaked Wednesday, the working map was only formally uploaded to the commission’s website a few minutes into Thursday’s hearing, leading to angry condemnations from the crowd in attendance.
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Ohio currently sends 10 Republicans and 5 Democrats to the U.S. House. The new maps could increase the GOP’s share to 12. Or, if Democrats outperform in 2026, it could put a few previously safe red seats into play.
According to statistics compiled by commission staff, the new maps would create 12 districts where Republicans outperformed Democrats across statewide races between 2016 and 2024 and three where Democrats captured more votes on average. Seven of those GOP-leaning districts would be considered competitive, while one of the Democratic-leaning districts — the 13th, held by Rep. Emilia Sykes (D) — would be a toss-up.
Democrats hold only two seats to the GOP’s five on the Ohio Redistricting Commission, and are heavily outnumbered in the General Assembly. An attempt to make Ohio’s redistricting process bipartisan through a 2018 constitutional amendment fell short, allowing a determined majority to ram through partisan maps if the state legislature and the redistricting commission both fail to adopt a bipartisan compromise.
The Ohio Redistricting Commission has until Friday to adopt a map on a bipartisan basis and has scheduled a meeting for Friday morning when it will vote on the working map, sources familiar with the panel’s negotiations told Democracy Docket.