The seven-member commission, which is tasked with the second step of the redistricting process, took over after the Republican-led General Assembly failed to pass a map with three-fifths bipartisan support by the initial September 30 deadline.
Governor Mike DeWine, one of the five Republicans on the commission, has repeatedly indicated he will call a meeting “soon,” but as of Wednesday, October 15, no formal announcement or date has been set.
The lack of action has drawn sharp criticism from commission Democrats, who have called on the Governor to immediately convene the body to fulfill its constitutional duty. Senate Democratic Leader Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) and House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) requested the commission meet within the next seven days to allow time for public hearings and to vote on a map before the end of the month.
“It was disappointing to see Republicans shirk their constitutional duty to even attempt to pass a bipartisan map in the month of September, and it now appears Gov. DeWine is taking the same partisan delay approach,” Antonio said in a recent statement.
The Ohio Constitution requires the ORC to adopt a congressional district plan by the last day of October. To pass a plan that is effective for the full ten years, at least two of the four minority-party members must vote in favor, a threshold the commission’s current 5-2 Republican majority cannot meet without Democratic support.
If the ORC fails to pass a bipartisan map by October 31, the responsibility returns to the General Assembly. At that point, the legislature can pass a map with a simple majority (50%+1) by November 30. However, a map passed solely by one party would only be in effect for four years, forcing the process to begin again ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
Republicans have yet to publicly introduce a congressional map proposal, whereas Democrats put forward a plan in September that analysis suggested would create a slight Republican tilt of 8-7, closer to the state’s historical voting preferences.
The ongoing delay mirrors previous struggles with the redistricting process in the state, which has seen past maps struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court as unconstitutional partisan gerrymanders. With the final deadline looming, advocates for fair maps are expressing growing frustration over what they view as a deliberate attempt by the majority party to bypass the bipartisan requirements of the constitutional amendments voters overwhelmingly approved.