Ohio Supreme Court rejects new state House, Senate district maps

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — The Ohio Supreme Court rejected on Wednesday newly-drawn maps that had retained a Republican supermajority in both chambers of the state Legislature.

The state's high court ruled the maps do not meet voter-approved provisions of the Ohio Constitution to reduce partisan political gerrymandering.

The Supreme Court concluded in a 4-3 decision the maps are invalid became the Ohio Redistricting Commission did not attempt to draw legislative districts that correspond with the statewide voter preference of Ohioans.

In its opinion, the Supreme Court noted, "All parties agreed that in statewide partisan elections over the past decade, Republican candidates had won 54 percent of the vote share and Democratic candidates had won 46 percent of the vote share.”

The court decided the maps were not constitutional because the Ohio House map adopted by the commission favored Republicans with 67 seats to 32 Decomcratic seats, and the Ohio Senate map favored Republicans 23-10.

State legislative maps struck down by the Ohio Supreme Court. (Ohio Secretary of State's Office)

The Supreme Court has ordered the Ohio Redistricting Commission to adopt a new plan within 10 days that meets the Ohio Constitution. The court said it will retain jurisdiction "to review the plan that the commission adopts for compliance with our order."

Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor joined Justice Melody J. Stewart's majority opinion and wrote a separate concurring opinion. Justice Michael P. Donnelly joined the majority opinion as did Justice Jennifer Brunner. Justices Sharon L. Kennedy and Patrick F. Fischer each wrote dissenting opinions and Justice R. Patrick DeWine joined Kennedy's dissent.

The district maps set the boundary lines for 99 House seats and 33 Senate seats and will be used in the 2022 elections. Primary elections are scheduled for May 3.

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, who is a member of the redistricting commission, said he expected the maps to make their way through the courts.

“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," DeWine said in a statement.

The Ohio Democratic Party Chair Elizabeth Walters released the following statement following the decision:

“Twice, Ohioans overwhelmingly demanded change and fair representation, and I’m glad that the Ohio Supreme Court listened. The Supreme Court today recognized what Ohioans already knew – GOP politicians tried to ram through an unconstitutional map that further rigs the state in favor of one party over another. Now that the Supreme Court has ruled, it’s imperative that the commission actually do their jobs this time and create maps that reflect our state, not a Republican party wish list.”

Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission Vice-Chair Jeniece Brock said the following after the decision:

"We're so thankful to the justices for ruling in the people's favor. Voters deserve fair, representative, and inclusive maps that include all of our voices, 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. Now the process starts over again, and over the next 10 days we will make sure our voices are fully heard and represented during this new process. With this ruling in our favor, we are confident that Ohio will become a more equitable place for all of us."

The decision also drew attention from former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who applauded the decision.

The Ohio Education also weighed in on the decision by the high court.

“The Ohio Education Association 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. OEA looks forward to seeing newly drawn, fair maps that will reflect the will of the two-thirds of Ohio voters who demanded an end to Ohio’s broken mapmaking process. Ohio voters deserve to choose their politicians, not the other way around. Today’s Ohio Supreme Court decision represents a major step toward making that a reality," OEA President Scott DiMauro said.