Congressional District Maps Challenged for 2012

The momentum resulting of a Republican majority in the Ohio House and Senate seemed at first to assure that the new congressional districts for the next decade were a "fait accompli".  However, in an effort to assure that it would not be challenged, the Republicans attached a budgetary component to the measure.  Under state law, that supposedly assures that the member can not be subject to a referendum.  However, the Ohio Supreme Court challenged that cynical maneuver, and permitted the Ohio Democratic Party to move forward with a referendum challenge of the Congressional map, gerrymandered to such an extent that it would assure 12-4 Republican-to-Democratic majority, in a state that went for President Obama in 2012.  

Chris Redfern of the Ohio Democratic Party, weighed in yesterday: 

"There will be no congressional districts as drawn," Redfern said. "Those districts have disappeared with this action and the ruling of the Ohio Supreme Court. The legislature, rather than playing political games now, should come and sit down and draw districts that fully reflect the will of the people of this state."

 This bodes well for next year's election cycle.  Previous petition drives have shown a more progressive bent to the will of the Ohio voters, who have come out strong in polls against SB5 / Issue 2, to be addressed this November, and have also signed up in sufficient numbers to put HB 194 (Voter Suppression Bill) on the ballot in November 2012.