Rep. Thomas: Republicans Fail to Introduce Map, Miss Deadline for Bipartisan Congressional Redistricting

COLUMBUS — State Rep. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) Tuesday slammed the Republican-controlled Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting’s failure to advance any fair, constitutional maps, calling it another broken promise to the people of Ohio. Ohioans have been frustrated with this lack of action, many stating that their constitutional rights have been overlooked. House Democrats have called for a congressional map that supports a seven to eight split, seven congressional seats for the Democratic Party and eight for the Republican Party. This plan would more accurately reflect the bipartisan map.

“Ohioans deserve answers. The Republican-controlled committee’s failure to reach consensus is not just disappointing—it’s a failure to uphold the constitutional rights of voters. House Democrats remain committed to transparency and fairness, and we continue to call on the legislature to work together and deliver a truly representative, bipartisan map,” said Rep. Thomas.

Now that the Republican-controlled legislature has failed to introduce and pass a new congressional map as outlined in the Ohio Constitution, the process moves to the Republican-controlled Ohio Redistricting Commission. That commission has until October 31st to vote on a bipartisan map. If Republicans fail to act again, the process returns to the legislature where it has until November 31st to pass a map by a simple majority.