Ohio Democratic Party Statement on Yet Another Failure of GOP-Led Redistricting Commission
October 26, 2021
Columbus, OH — Today, the Ohio Democratic Party released the following statement after Republican Speaker Bob Cupp admitted that the GOP-controlled redistricting commission has failed to do its job and is once again flouting the Constitution and ignoring Ohioans calls for fair political representation. Not even pretending to try anymore, Cupp says the Commission will conduct a sham meeting this week but Republicans have already decided not to pass any maps, meaning the Commission will miss the October 31 constitutional deadline, just the latest deadline the commission has missed.
“Ohioans can’t just wake up one day and decide not to do their jobs, and the people they elect to represent their interests shouldn’t be able to get away with it either. Redistricting will affect issues ranging from education to healthcare to the economy, and it’s clear Republicans aren’t taking any of those issues seriously, as they continue to play politics, ignore the Constitution and fail to do the jobs they were elected to do,” said Matt Keyes, spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party.
The news today comes as several GOP members of the redistricting commission admitted in sworn depositions this week that they were not involved in the statehouse mapmaking process, yet voted for the gerrymandered maps anyway. It’s clear these GOP politicians are only looking out for themselves and their own political party, instead of the interests of the Ohioans they’re supposed to represent.