Sen. Sykes and Leader Yuko Present Democratic Congressional District Proposal
November 3, 2021
Vernon Sykes News
Today, state Senator Vernon Sykes (D-Akron) and Ohio Senate Minority Leader Kenny Yuko (D-Richmond Heights) gave sponsor testimony on Senate Bill 237, the Senate Democratic Caucus’ congressional district map proposal, during a meeting of the Local Government and Elections Committee.
“In the spirit of promoting fairness, our map takes into consideration all criteria required by the Ohio Constitution,” Sykes said. “Our map keeps communities together and does not unduly favor or disfavor a political party. It also complies with the spirit of the constitutional reforms to end gerrymandering that were overwhelmingly supported by Ohio voters in 2018.”
S. B. 237, which is co-sponsored by all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, was created using data from the 2020 Census, as well as simple vote totals of each partisan statewide election from 2012 to 2020. It adheres to all applicable provisions of the Ohio Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, as well as federal laws, including those that protect racial minorities and voting rights. The plan does not illegally split contiguous municipalities or townships in any district in the state, and counties are only split to account for population requirements.
“This process and our work here today should represent the best of us. It should reflect the will of Ohio voters, the spirit of our Constitution, and the strength of American democracy that spans hundreds of years and is a beacon across the world,” Yuko said. “As elected leaders, we owe it to our constituents to produce fair maps. Let’s work together and get this mission accomplished. We have too much to lose by just complaining, or withdrawing to our separate corners.”
The Ohio Constitution requires additional requirements to congressional districts that “shall apply” if the General Assembly does not adopt a plan with sufficient bipartisan support. S. B. 237 satisfies all of these standards, which include the following:
• The plan must not unduly favor or disfavor a political party or its incumbents;
• The map shall not unduly split governmental units, giving preference to keeping whole, counties, townships and cities;
• The districts shall be compact.
To review the map, click here. To see the map on Dave’s Redistricting, click here.
“In the spirit of promoting fairness, our map takes into consideration all criteria required by the Ohio Constitution,” Sykes said. “Our map keeps communities together and does not unduly favor or disfavor a political party. It also complies with the spirit of the constitutional reforms to end gerrymandering that were overwhelmingly supported by Ohio voters in 2018.”
S. B. 237, which is co-sponsored by all members of the Senate Democratic Caucus, was created using data from the 2020 Census, as well as simple vote totals of each partisan statewide election from 2012 to 2020. It adheres to all applicable provisions of the Ohio Constitution and the U.S. Constitution, as well as federal laws, including those that protect racial minorities and voting rights. The plan does not illegally split contiguous municipalities or townships in any district in the state, and counties are only split to account for population requirements.
“This process and our work here today should represent the best of us. It should reflect the will of Ohio voters, the spirit of our Constitution, and the strength of American democracy that spans hundreds of years and is a beacon across the world,” Yuko said. “As elected leaders, we owe it to our constituents to produce fair maps. Let’s work together and get this mission accomplished. We have too much to lose by just complaining, or withdrawing to our separate corners.”
The Ohio Constitution requires additional requirements to congressional districts that “shall apply” if the General Assembly does not adopt a plan with sufficient bipartisan support. S. B. 237 satisfies all of these standards, which include the following:
• The plan must not unduly favor or disfavor a political party or its incumbents;
• The map shall not unduly split governmental units, giving preference to keeping whole, counties, townships and cities;
• The districts shall be compact.
To review the map, click here. To see the map on Dave’s Redistricting, click here.