Equal Districts Coalition Readies for Redraw After Ohio Supreme Court Rejects Unconstitutional Maps
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2022
Contact:
Katy Shanahan, 614-372-6980, shanahan@redistrictingaction.org
Rachel Coyle, 419-351-5844, coyle@innovationohio.org
COLUMBUS — TODAY, the Equal Districts Coalition — a group of over 30 Ohio advocacy organizations and labor unions engaged in the redistricting process — cheered the Ohio Supreme Court’s decisive ruling against gerrymandered legislative maps and began gearing up to fight once again for representative districts.
“This is a truly momentous victory for all Ohioans and for our democracy. With fair maps, we unlock a reality that hasn’t existed in Ohio for decades — one where we the people choose who leads us, and one where we all stand on equal footing in our ability to choose who represents us and our communities,” said Katy Shanahan, Ohio State Director for All On The Line. “But while we’re soaking in this important victory, our focus now turns to our continued fight for fair maps during the redraw process. Time is of the essence, and Ohio’s democracy is on the line.”
The court’s ruling sets off a whirlwind process, during which the redistricting commission must redraw district maps in a constitutional manner within just ten days. This notably short turnaround time will allow candidates for the 2022 election to meet February’s filing deadline, the date by which candidates must submit enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot.
“Last year, Governor DeWine and Ohio’s Republican supermajority rigged our districts to give their party unfair, unearned supermajorities in state government. We are absolutely thrilled at this second opportunity to draw fair maps — now with the backing of the Ohio Supreme Court. I’m looking forward to both parties coming together to right this wrong,” said Desiree TIms, President and CEO, Innovation Ohio.
In yesterday’s decision, the Supreme Court invalidated Ohio’s newly-adopted state legislative maps and ordered the Ohio Redistricting Commission to be convened to redraw new maps. The maps must meet all constitutional requirements — including representational fairness.
Notably, the Court embraced the Equal Districts Coalition’s definition of ‘fair’ and ordered new maps that reflect a 54% Republican - 46% Democratic partisan split of the state, evidenced by the last decade of statewide votes. Groups that challenged the maps are also able to object to the newly redrawn maps, if necessary.
“We applaud the Ohio Supreme Court majority opinion released yesterday that ruled the Republican-drawn state House and Senate maps as unconstitutional. Ohio Supreme Court Justice Melody Stewart wrote the majority opinion, with consent from Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, Justice Jennifer Brunner and Justice Michael Donnelly,” said Tim Burga, President, Ohio AFL-CIO. “We now call on the Ohio Redistricting Commission to abide by the ruling and promptly submit fair maps that adhere to the spirit and intent of the voters who overwhelmingly amended the Ohio Constitution to end the illegal practice of gerrymandering.”
Throughout the next ten days and beyond, the Equal Districts Coalition will double down on its efforts to ensure legislators draw fair, representative maps that accurately reflect not only Ohio’s partisan breakdown, but its wide range of diverse communities as well. The coalition’s work will include public education and engagement campaigns, as well as clear messaging laying out the basics of a fair map.
The Equal Districts Coalition will also hold virtual testimony trainings Tuesday - Friday of this coming week for Ohioans wishing to testify for fair maps.
“Democracy works best when the game isn’t rigged and people and communities are empowered to demand that decision-makers represent their best interests. Today’s decision by the Supreme Court sides with the people of Ohio who have repeatedly—and by a supermajority—asked the Ohio legislature and commission to stop cheating. With our environment and health on the line, we cannot afford another decade of rigged maps,” said Heather Taylor-Miesle, Executive Director, Ohio Environmental Council.
Under constitutional maps, Democrats will receive about 46% and Republicans will receive about 54% of Ohio’s Statehouse seats, reflecting the average statewide vote over the past decade.
The Equal Districts Coalition has endorsed the legislative maps crafted by the Ohio Citizens’ Redistricting Commission. View the maps here.
“This ruling by the Ohio Supreme Court has the potential to finally restore the power of Ohio voters that gerrymandering has diluted for decades. It is a major victory that brings us one step closer to fair, representative, and inclusive maps that include all of our voices,” said Jeniece Brock, Policy and Advocacy Director, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, and Vice-Chair for the Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission. “Black, brown, and Muslim Ohioans have been left out of the discussion around redistricting, thus it's our voices that must be centered in the conversation because our communities suffer the impacts of gerrymandering on a day to day basis. We are thankful for this favorable ruling and are hopeful that after this process, Ohio will become a more equitable place for all of us.”
Here’s what Equal Districts Coalition Partners are saying about this pivotal victory and the path forward:
Katie Paris, Founder, Red Wine and Blue:
"Suburban, rural, and urban voters came together in 2018 and 2020 to elect Ohio Supreme Court justices who would represent all of us. Today, they stood for democracy. Elections matter."
Melissa Cropper, President, Ohio Federation of Teachers:
“Ohioans have voted overwhelmingly for safeguards against partisan gerrymandering, but Republicans on the redistricting commission, including Governor DeWine, Auditor Faber, and Secretary of State LaRose, ignored the will of the voters and created skewed maps that effectively disenfranchise voters of the opposition party. We’re thankful that the Supreme Court has ordered a remedy that complies with existing law so that Ohio voters can have a meaningful voice in choosing our representatives.”
Jona Hilario, Co-Director, OPAWL - Building AAPI Feminist Leadership:
“Ohioans have made it clear through this entire redistricting process that nothing short of fair, representative maps are acceptable. We applaud the Ohio Supreme Court’s decision to strike down the gerrymandered maps. We will continue to advocate for maps that reflect Ohioans’ actual voting preferences and that take into account racial demographics of districts, so our communities’ needs are not neglected and our voices are not drowned out in disproportionality.”
Raymond Greene Jr., Executive Director, The Freedom BLOC:
“This recent Supreme Court decision to reject State and Senate maps is a win ultimately for democracy but also for the future of Ohio.”
Scott DiMauro, President, Ohio Education Association:
“The Ohio Education Association (OEA) applauds the wisdom of the Ohio Supreme Court in striking down the gerrymandered maps that would have denied Ohioans a real voice in the Statehouse. This is a huge victory for Ohio voters and for Ohio schools, which are greatly impacted by the decisions of the state’s elected lawmakers.”
Amina Barhumi, Acting Executive Director, CAIR-Ohio:
“What a victory for the people of Ohio, for the Muslim community who showed up, testified, submitted maps, and made their voices heard. This ruling sends a clear signal: democracy demands that voters pick their leaders, not the other way around. We the people, must continue to hold our elected officials accountable. When we do that, we still have a fighting chance for equity in this state.”
Lauren Blauvelt-Copelin, Vice President of Government Affairs and Public Advocacy, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio:
“Since two branches of Ohio’s government have purposefully refused to uphold the law—we are glad that the third branch struck down these clearly unconstitutional gerrymandered maps. These maps will shape our lives, laws, and policies for at least the next decade. We all deserve the power to elect new, diverse, leadership that truly represents us.”
Petee Talley, Chief Officer, Ohio Unity Coalition:
“This is a victory for Ohio voters and a chance for the Commission to get the maps right based upon the right foundation of fairness, so voters can truly determine who will represent them through the process of elections.”
Kellie Copeland, Executive Director, Pro-Choice Ohio:
“The majority of Ohioans support local abortion access. However, the Ohio Republican Party has used gerrymandering to divide communities and manufacture districts that provide them with electoral victories they would not otherwise win. This has allowed them to elect more and more ultra-conservative candidates who push vile proposals that prevent Ohioans from being able to access the reproductive health care they need. As early as June of 2022 the US Supreme Court could rule to gut or overturn Roe v. Wade, severely limiting abortion access. It is imperative that Ohioans have legislative districts that represent their communities so that abortion access can be protected in our state. Without fair districts that keep communities whole and reflect the will of the voters, access to abortion in Ohio could be completely eliminated, over the objections of the majority of Ohioans.”
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The Equal Districts Coalition is the largest redistricting coalition in Ohio, with over 30 member organizations. It includes the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP, Ohio Organizing Collaborative, OAPSE/AFSCME, AFSCME Ohio Council 8, the Ohio Environmental Council, Innovation Ohio, the Ohio Student Association, ProgressOhio, All On the Line-Ohio, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio, Ohio Council of Churches, NARAL Pro-Choice Ohio, URGE – Unite for Reproductive and Gender Equity, LEAD Ohio, the Ohio Women’s Alliance, the Ohio Federation of Teachers, Ohio Education Association, CAIR-Ohio, Campus Vote Project, For Our Future Ohio, Ohio Unity Coalition, Equality Ohio, The Freedom Bloc, and more.
