Ohio Congressional Redistricting: What You Need to Know

09/17/25

Ohio is once again gearing up to be in the national spotlight over redistricting. The current congressional map for Ohio is only valid through 2026. Therefore, the 2026 election will need a new map for Ohio congressional districts, where candidates will be running for those newly-drawn districts for the 2027-28 term. The Ohio General Assembly, our state legislature, gets to draw electoral maps. But some unique criteria for the process in our state can complicate the process. The coming weeks will determine how voters' political lines are drawn.

Background

In 2015, Ohio voters approved a constitutional amendment (statewide ballot issue) to reform the state's redistricting process. The measure:

· Created the seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission to oversee state legislative maps.

· Requires bipartisan approval for maps to last a full 10 years.

· Sets criteria for compactness and respect for community and political boundaries.

· Imposed a four-year limit on maps adopted without bipartisan support.

That last point is key: Ohio's current congressional map, adopted in 2022 without bipartisan backing, expires in 2026. That means lawmakers or the commission must produce a new map this fall.

Historically, 10-year maps were drawn based on the U.S. Census every 10 years. Ohio currently has 15 U.S. House seats, a number which can and has fluctuated based on population nationwide. In other words, each state gets a commensurate share of the 435 U.S. House seats in Congress based on its share of the country's total population. States growing in population typically pick up new seats to apportion, while others that are stagnant or losing population tend to lose a seat or more. When the map is drawn for these seats, a roughly equal number of Ohio residents are placed into each district. This is why typically urban-centric districts are geographically smaller while rural districts tend to be geographically large.

These new Ohio redistricting laws were first applied after the 2020 census and may lead to Ohio being an exception to the conventional redistricting rules across the country, with likely successive four-year maps for the foreseeable future amid partisan disagreement on the map process.

Deadlines and Process

By law, the General Assembly has until the end of September to pass a congressional map. If it fails, the task shifts to the Redistricting Commission, which must approve a plan by the end of October.

Current Status

Democrats-who remain deep in the minority at the Statehouse-unveiled their own congressional map proposal. Meanwhile, Republicans, who hold supermajorities in both the Ohio House and Senate, have not and are scheduled to begin formal deliberations this Monday, September 22 through the new 12-member Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting (8 Republicans, 4 Democrats).

However, there is a possibility that GOP leaders may allow their September deadline to lapse, punting responsibility to the Redistricting Commission. That strategy could give Republicans more flexibility in negotiations while testing whether the commission can reach any bipartisan compromise.

Here are the 12 state legislators from both chambers and both parties on the newly-created Joint Committee on Congressional Redistricting, which has the first take at creating a map to put to vote:

Co-Chairs

• Rep. Adam Bird (R-New Richmond)
• Sen. Jane Timken (R-Jackson Township)

House Members

• Rep. Nick Santucci (R-Niles)
• Rep. Brian Stewart (R-Ashville)
• Rep. D.J. Swearingen (R-Huron)
• Rep. Desiree Tims (D-Dayton)
• Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) - House Minority Leader

Senate Members

• Sen. Theresa Gavarone (R-Bowling Green)
• Sen. Steve Huffman (R-Tipp City)
• Sen. Bill Reineke (R-Tiffin)
• Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-Lakewood) - Senate Minority Leader
• Sen. Willis E. Blackshear Jr. (D-Dayton)

The seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission includes three statewide officeholders and four legislative appointees:

• Gov. Mike DeWine (R)
• Auditor of State Keith Faber (R)
• Secretary of State Frank LaRose (R)
• Sen. Rob McColley (R) - Senate President
• Rep. Jeff LaRe (R) - appointed by legislative leadership
• Sen. Nickie Antonio (D) - Senate Minority Leader
• Rep. Allison Russo (D) - House Minority Leader

The Emergency Clause Option

House Speaker Matt Huffman has also floated another possibility: passing a GOP-drawn plan but attaching an emergency clause. That maneuver would allow the map to take effect immediately and block Democrats from pursuing a statewide repeal referendum. But there's a catch-emergency clauses require a two-thirds majority in the House, or 66 votes. Republicans currently hold 65 seats, meaning at least one Democrat would need to cross party lines.

What's Next?

With court challenges almost certain no matter which map is adopted, Ohio could once again find itself at the center of national debates over gerrymandering, voter representation, and partisan power. All eyes will be on Columbus in the weeks ahead to see whether Republicans push through their own map in the legislature, or whether the Redistricting Commission takes over as the clock ticks toward 2026.