COLUMBUS – Ohio’s new congressional district map has cleared the Republican-controlled state Legislature at a breakneck pace.
The plan heads next to GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who is under pressure to veto it.
The map’s latest iteration emerged late Monday and passed through two committees and two chambers in less than three days.
Republicans call it competitive, constitutional and not unduly favorable to either party. Democrats, voting-rights groups and scholars say the map is gerrymandered, favoring Republicans in 13 of the state’s 15 U.S. House districts.
Lacking Democratic support, it is on track to last only four of the 10 years until the next census, the results of which trigger the once-per-decade map-drawing process.
“It is clear from how the process unfolded that Republicans never intended to achieve a bipartisan, 10-year map,” Rep. Allison Russo (D-Upper Arlington) said.
Russo sent a letter to DeWine urging a veto of the map.