Ohio Legislative Maps Unconstitutional: Reactions From Governor, Other Politicians

COLUMBUS, OH — Politicians on both sides of the aisle reacted when the Ohio Supreme Court declared the state's legislative maps to be unconstitutional.

On Wednesday afternoon, the Court announced a 4-3 decision invalidating the maps. The majority decision, which included Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, said the Ohio Redistricting Commission did not attempt to meet the standards of the state constitution — which direct mapmakers to create districts that do not favor one political party over another.

The Commission now has 10 days to create new maps

• Read more: Ohio Supreme Court: Legislative Maps Unconstitutional

What Ohio Politicians Are Saying

Gov. Mike DeWine, a Republican, said he expected the court to rule on the map's constitutionality from the beginning of the map making process. His son, Justice Patrick DeWine, is a member of the Ohio Supreme Court and did not recuse himself from the case. Patrick DeWine voted for the maps' validity.

“Throughout this process, I expected that Ohio’s legislative maps would be litigated and that the Ohio Supreme Court would make a decision on their constitutionality. I will work with my fellow Redistricting Commission members on revised maps that are consistent with the Court’s order," Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.

Rep. Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat, called the Court's decision a "resounding victory for Ohio voters, and for democracy itself."

"The Court has confirmed what we already knew - these partisan maps, drawn in secret, were a clear violation of the Ohio Constitution," she said. "While we await a decision on Ohio's Congressional maps, I urge the Redistricting Commission to follow the will of Ohio voters, get to work in a transparent and bipartisan manner, and deliver legislative maps that fairly represent the people and communities of our great state."

Ohio Legislative Black Caucus (OLBC) President state Rep. Thomas West, a Democrat, "applauded" the Court for ruling the maps unconstitutional and a violation of the will of Ohio voters.

“Now, we have a second chance to produce a bipartisan, constitutional 10-year map that represents Ohioans’ voting preferences. OLBC and Democrats made repeated good-faith efforts to compromise before, and we stand ready to do so again. This time around, the Commission must listen to the will of Ohio voters," he said.

Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, a Republican, previously argued his maps were both "constitutional and competitive."