COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republican Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has announced his opposition to a fall ballot initiative aimed at reforming the state’s controversial political mapmaking system. At a recent news conference, DeWine expressed his intent to campaign against the Citizens Not Politicians amendment, arguing that it would lead to gerrymandering and undermine other good government objectives.
DeWine specifically criticized the proposal's requirement for partisan proportionality in the maps, stating that it would force mapmakers to draw districts with predetermined partisan advantages, thereby negating other important considerations. Instead, he advocated for adopting the Iowa model, which prohibits mapmakers from consulting past election results or protecting individual lawmakers, aiming to remove politics from the process.
However, supporters of the Ohio ballot measure argue that the Iowa system still allows state lawmakers the final say on district maps, which is precisely what the Ohio plan seeks to avoid. Retired Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O'Connor, a leading advocate for the ballot measure, accused DeWine of spreading disinformation and supporting a plan that would allow politicians to continue manipulating the system.
The fall ballot proposal seeks to replace the Ohio Redistricting Commission, currently composed of the governor, auditor, secretary of state, and four legislative leaders, with an independent body selected directly by citizens. This new panel would be diversified by party affiliation and geography.
During the recent redistricting process following the 2020 Census, multiple maps were rejected by courts as unconstitutionally gerrymandered. DeWine argued that the criteria for mapmaking, rather than the mapmakers themselves, are the critical issue. He plans to work with the Legislature to present an alternative plan based on the Iowa model to voters, should the current proposal pass.
DeWine's decision to actively oppose the redistricting initiative comes as Citizens Not Politicians reports raising nearly $25 million for their bipartisan ballot effort, demonstrating broad opposition to gerrymandering across the political spectrum. O'Connor highlighted that the fundraising success reflects a widespread disdain for gerrymandering, which she believes only serves to empower political insiders at the expense of everyday citizens.
As the debate over Ohio's political mapmaking system intensifies, the outcome of the fall ballot initiative and subsequent legislative efforts will significantly shape the state's political landscape and the integrity of its electoral processes.