“Chaos” & “Dysfunction:” Here’s What Ohioans are Reading about the Latest Chaos Created by Republicans on the Redistricting Commission

September 14, 2023

Columbus, OH – Yesterday, after 16 months of inaction, Republicans on the Redistricting Commission were forced to once again delay the process due to political infighting among GOP politicians. It’s yet another reminder of how Republican politicians have broken the redistricting process and another sign to Ohio voters that the redistricting process in Ohio must be reformed.

“After 16 months of inaction, Republican politicians have broken the redistricting process so completely that they can’t even agree on basic procedural decisions. It’s clear that Republicans on the Commission are already more concerned with settling political scores rather than doing the work they were elected to do. And Ohioans are paying the price. It’s time to put redistricting back in the hands of the people and remove politicians from the process,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.

Read more from Ohio outlets about the latest round of redistricting chaos created by Republicans:

Associated Press: GOP legislative leaders’ co-chair flap has brought the Ohio Redistricting Commission to a standstill
Julie Carr Smyth

“Ohio’s latest attempt to draw fair political maps crumbled amid Republican infighting Wednesday, begging the question of whether a commission unable even to appoint its co-chairs will be able to negotiate a bipartisan redistricting solution within the few short weeks it’s been allotted.”

Cincinnati.com: GOP infighting stalls work of Ohio Redistricting Commission as election deadline looms
Jessie Balmert

“The first meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission underscored divisions among legislative Republicans that stalled selecting a co-chairman Wednesday and threatened to complicate efforts to craft new, constitutional House and Senate maps by this fall. Ohio currently has no maps for state House and Senate seats just three months before candidates must file to run for the 2024 election.”

Cleveland.com: Ohio’s legislative redistricting effort hits early snag thanks to GOP infighting
Jeremy Pelzer

“Ohio’s latest state legislative redistricting process stalled almost as soon as it started Wednesday, thanks to infighting among Statehouse Republicans over who will co-chair the redistricting commission. The dispute, which comes amid a looming battle between House Speaker Jason Stephens and Senate President Matt Huffman over the speaker’s gavel in 2025, means the Ohio Redistricting Commission won’t begin its work until at least Friday, its next scheduled meeting.”

Dayton Daily News: Republican spat stalls redistricting process in first meeting
Avery Kreemer

“A behind-the-scenes disagreement among Republican leadership caused a false start Wednesday for Ohio’s Redistricting Commission, which met under court order to create a semi-permanent fix to the state’s unconstitutional state legislative districts ahead of the 2024 elections.”

Ohio Capital Journal: Ohio Redistricting Commission descends into chaos and dysfunction on first day back
David DeWitt

“If Ohio politicians planned to show exactly why they deserve to be kicked out of the redistricting process entirely, they couldn’t have done a better job than the shameful display they put on Wednesday morning: They immediately descended into chaos and dysfunction after waiting more than 16 months to begin the process of drawing new Ohio House and Senate maps. The meeting was supposed to be ‘organizational,’ and they failed to meet even that low bar, unable to name co-chairs of the commission that will decide on the districts that will shape Ohio’s General Assembly starting in 2025.”

Statehouse News Bureau: Meeting of Ohio map-drawing panel goes nowhere
Karen Kasler

‘“Is this an inauspicious start?’ DeWine was asked. ‘Well, we haven’t started yet,” DeWine said with a chuckle.’”

WCMH-TV Columbus: Republican infighting brings redistricting committee to a standstill
Natalie Fahmy

“Leader Antonio and Ohio House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington), who are both on the commission, said they agree about who they will appoint as co-chair. They said they have a decision made up, no matter who the Republicans choose. But Speaker of The House Jason Stephens (R-Kitts Hill) and Senate President Matt Huffman (R-Lima) have yet to agree on who will chair the Republican side.”

WSYX-TV Columbus: GOP infighting thwarts initial efforts to draw new Ohio legislative district maps
Darrel Rowland

“The panel supposed to draw new legislative maps ground to a halt Wednesday barely five minutes after convening — all due to internal Republican political strife. Senate President Matt Huffman and House Speaker Jason Stephens cannot agree on who should chair the Ohio Redistricting Commission.”

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