Clevelandurbannews.com and Kathywraycolemanonlinenewsblog.com Staff article-
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Today, Co-Chair of the Ohio Redistricting Commission and Senate Minority Leader Nickie J. Antonio (pictured), a Lakewood Democrat, released a statement after Republicans failed to present a congressional district map proposal at the first meeting of the Ohio Redistricting Commission. Antonio's 23rd state Senate district includes 14 of Cleveland's 17 wards, and Cleveland, a largely Black city, is part of the 11th congressional district in Ohio.
The Ohio Constitution requires that the Commission, which voters established in 2015 per a constitutional amendment, pass a bipartisan map by the end of October. Antonio is a member of the seven-member Commission due to her role as Minority Leader, a commission that also includes the governor, auditor and secretary of state. The Ohio Supreme Court can review any map for compliance with the state constitution Ohio has 15 congressional districts, currently consisting of 10 held by Republicans and five by Democrats. These districts are a result of a map approved by the Ohio Redistricting Commission in March 2022, though the map was drawn without Democratic support and is subject to change after 2026. With 10 days left, Republicans have continued to attempt to run out the clock and failed to introduce a map proposal, Antonio says. Under state law, congressional redistricting in Ohio is under the purview of the Republican-dominated state legislature, and Democrats complain that President Donald Trump is allegedly behind the delay.
"For four years, we've all known this day was coming. We have a constitutional duty at this moment to make our best faith effort to work together and pass a congressional proposal by no later than October 31 – 10 days from now," said Antonio in a press release on Tuesday. "Delay after seemingly disingenuous delay, we're watching the clock run out just as it has in the past. Ohioans have sent us all a clear, unmistakable message that we need to serve them better. I hope we can all heed that call, do our constitutional duty, and work together before the end of the month."
The Constitution also requires the Commission to set rules by a bipartisan vote, which they failed to do. Co-Chair Antonio proposed using the same rules that the Commission used in 2021, but Republicans did not allow a vote on those rules.
"The stakes are really high right now. Ohio has the potential to determine whether our Congress bows to the whims of an authoritarian president, or keeps tyrants in check, and provides the checks and balances that Ohioans expect and deserve," Antonio said. "I'm heartened to see news accounts that folks outside of this Commission and the legislature are currently preparing for the possibility of a referendum if the legislature should make the regrettable mistake of putting politics ahead of the people's interests." | 
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