Ohio’s new congressional district lines have been drawn. Democrats are howling and Republicans are cheering. It reminds me of Boss Don Hanni’s old line when people complained to him that he only hired his friends. His answer: Who am I going to hire, my enemies?
Unfortunately for the Democrats, Obama’s primary legacy is gerrymandered districts favoring Republicans all across the country. The statewide elections both parties definitely don’t want to lose are in the year of a census. In this case, the historic Republican sweep of state elections in 2010 will shape Congress for the next ten years, and help consolidate Republican power.
There is the usual pissing and moaning. The Democrats complain that we all need to work together for the good of the country. The Republicans retort that elections have consequences. Ironically, both parties were arguing the opposite points of view during the health care debate when the Democrats swept both houses of Congress, and along with a Democratic president, shoved an unpopular health care bill down the throat of an unsuspecting American public. The current Democratic redistricting debacle is a direct result of that sneaky Christmas Eve health care vote by the Democratic Senate. It’s not nice to fool the voting public.
Notwithstanding, it is what it is. The Republicans in Columbus have adjusted Ohio’s districts from 18 to 16 as a result of a stagnant population, and the Democrats are the big losers. Of the new congressional districts 10 are strongly Republican, 4 are strongly Democratic, and 2 are toss-ups but can be characterized as leaning Republican. If I lived in Akron, I would be furious. It was vivisected. God knows who represents whom in Summit County.
In this area, Tim Ryan’s 17th District is now the 13th District. District lines were expanded further into Summit County (Akron), Portage and Stark counties. It lost some of Trumbull County, but gained Boardman and Poland Village in Mahoning County.
The monster 6th District now goes all the way from New Middletown 315 some miles down along the Ohio river to the Southern-most tip of the tip of the state. There is major expansion to the west making it the largest geographic district in the state, and I suspect among the largest in the country. If anyone can figure out what New Middletown and Canfield have in common with Marietta, let me know!!! Nonetheless, there it is. Just so you know, within this monster 6th District, you can’t get there from here. You actually have to drive through West Virginia to reach the southern netherworld of the 6th district.
And to some extent this remodel of Ohio’s congressional districts has received “bi-partisan” support. Several Democratic members of Ohio’s House of Representatives voted to approve it because minority districts remained intact. At least 5 Republicans voted against it on principle opposing massive districts that cross the state like the Ohio 6th.
Next on the agenda is the redrawing of the Ohio state representative and senate districts. My understanding is the plan will be released sometime in October. Rumor has it Gerberry and Hagan’s districts will be combined leaving one of them out of a job. But I am not too worried. Both of these guys seem to have nine lives. No matter what…when they lose one government job, they always walk away with another.
The more things change, the more they stay the same!!!
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