Dewine: Dems, GOP not going to move
Governor talks on redistricting impasse
Gov. Mike Dewine blamed partisan gridlock for the state House and Senate maps that led to several lawsuits now pending at the Ohio Supreme Court.
Dewine was one of seven members of the Ohio Redistricting Commission, which was tasked with drawing maps that complied with voter-approved changes to curb partisan gerrymandering.
In the end, he was one of five Republicans who approved the maps over Democrats’ objections, leading to a four-year map. Dewine made clear that day that he wasn’t happy with the final product, which would give Republicans a veto-proof majority in both chambers.
But in an interview with the USA Today Network Ohio Bureau, Dewine said negotiations broke down in mid-september because of an unwillingness to work together.
“I went to talk to the Democrats. I went to talk to the Republicans, and it was abundantly clear that there wasn’t anybody moving,” Dewine said. “Even more importantly, it was clear to me that they were not going to move, ever, and so at that point, let’s move onto the court and not waste everybody’s time.”
And move onto the courts, they did. Three lawsuits were filed against the maps, which Republicans justified by saying voters preferred GOP candidates between 54% and 81% of the time. The second number is the percentage of races won by Republicans over the past decade.
Ohioans are now waiting on a ruling from the state supreme court. If the jus
tices strikes down the maps, the Ohio Redistricting Commission would be sent back to the drawing board.
Some Ohioans, frustrated with the maps, have suggested changes to the commission, including opting for an independent one instead. But Dewine said it’s best not to recommend changes until the Ohio Supreme Court issues more guidance.
“Before we have this debate about what we should be doing, we ought to at least play this game out a little bit and see how the Supreme Court interprets what’s in the Ohio Constitution,” Dewine said.
Jessie Balmert is a reporter for the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau, which serves the Akron Beacon Journal, Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch and 18 other affiliated news organizations across Ohio.