The state will continue its fight to defend Ohio’s Congressional map in court, after last week’s federal court ruling that the map is unconstitutionally gerrymandered. While the map came out of a deal between state lawmakers of both parties, Republicans and Democrats are at odds in the battle over it.
Ohio Democratic Party Chair David Pepper said a fairly drawn map of the bellwether state of Ohio wouldn’t have 12 Republicans and 4 Democrats in every election since the map was created.
“Theydon'texpectittobeexactbutyou'dexpecttohavenotguaranteed12-4," Pepper said.
Ohio Republican Party Chair Jane Timken doesn’t defend the current map, but said given where each party’s voters live, guaranteeing an even split would also be gerrymandering.
“Thisartificialcreationofwhatthestatewidevoterturnoutandelectionresultswereonaspecificcongressionaldistrict- they needtorepresentthevotersinthatdistrict," said Timken.
The map passed in 2011 after a bipartisan deal to avoid a second primary in 2012 that would have been just for Congressional districts.
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