Ohio Approves Redistricting Map Favoring GOP Ahead of Deadline

UPDATE: Ohio’s representatives have just approved a bi-partisan redistricting map that could potentially enhance Republican representation in the state. The Ohio Redistricting Commission reached a unanimous decision on October 31, 2025, amidst fears that a new map could be drawn without Democratic input as early as November.

State Rep. Brian Stewart, R-Ashville, emphasized the importance of finding a solution that serves the state’s interests, stating, “Coming to an agreement that is in the best interest of the state… is one of the toughest things we can do as elected leaders.” However, Senate Minority Leader Nickie Antonio acknowledged the compromise was merely the “best option among bad ones.”

This critical decision comes as Democrats faced a looming deadline. If no agreement were reached, the Ohio constitution allows Republicans to unilaterally draft a new map. With a case concerning the Voting Rights Act pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, the stakes were higher than ever.

The newly approved map will slightly favor Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes of Akron in her northeast Ohio district, although it remains highly competitive. Conversely, Toledo Rep. Marcy Kaptur faces a tougher battle for re-election, given her district swung towards President Donald Trump by seven points in the last election. Kaptur, the longest-serving representative in the U.S., expressed her determination, stating, “I will fight on for the people and ask the voters for their support next year.”

Cincinnati Rep. Greg Landsman also saw his re-election prospects diminish, as outlined by Ohio House Minority Leader Dani Isaacsohn, D-Cincinnati, who remains optimistic about the district’s potential for Landsman’s success. “This is a district Greg Landsman can and will win in, and that’s what the people of Cincinnati deserve,” Isaacsohn asserted.

The decision to approve the map follows a failed ballot measure in 2024 aimed at empowering residents to oversee district mapping. Activists are voicing their frustration, with Mia Lewis, associate director at Common Cause Ohio, stating, “The anger and frustration has been years in the making. You have shown all of us, all of Ohio, that politicians cannot be involved in drawing district lines.”

Jen Miller, executive director of the League of Women Voters of Ohio, echoed these sentiments, highlighting that both Republican and Democratic voters feel betrayed. “They sold them out—and they’re both right,” she remarked.

As Ohio moves forward, the implications of this redistricting map could reshape the political landscape ahead of the upcoming elections. Stay tuned for further updates as this story develops.