Punchbowl News reports that Republicans in Columbus pulled a political surprise late on Wednesday night, striking a deal to redraw the congressional district map of Ohio.
After late-night negotiations, GOP redistricting commissioners offered a compromise to Democrats. Democrats chose to take the medication rather than risk a fight at the ballot box.
Emilia Sykes, a Democrat, gets a district that is slightly more friendly in northeast Ohio, but it remains a zone of uncertainty where there are no easy wins. Rep. Greg Landsman has to fight in a less-friendly district than before. Marcy Kaptur, a long-time Democratic representative in northwest Ohio, sees the district that Donald Trump already won by 7 points shift even more Republican.
Columbus Democrats Joyce Beatty, Shontel, Brown, and Carey remain seated in blue safety seats. Dems still have an outside chance to challenge GOP Reps. Max Miller and Mike Turner.
Nearly everyone expected the commission to deadlock and send the map to the GOP-controlled parliament, where Republicans would be locked in to pass an incredibly brutal map of 13-2. According to sources, the GOP showed the scorched earth draft of the map and threatened that it would be voted on by Nov. 1, if the negotiations failed.
The Democrats responded with a referendum threat, which House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffreys said he would fund. But collecting 250,000 signatures within 90 days during football season and holidays is no easy task. Republicans were not eager to risk their advantage. Both sides were able to blink enough for them to shake hands.
Redistricting Commission meets at 4 pm today, ahead of deadline on Oct. 31.
Sykes is the daughter a former Ohio state legislator Vernon Sykes who lived in Columbus for more than 40 years and developed relationships with Republicans who now shape her district.
The GOP is eyeing the battlefield. Insiders say Ohio Senate president Rob McColley is eyeing Kaptur’s position. He reportedly pushed for his Henry County base to be moved into the district in order to swing a primary.
In the end, Democrats were punished, but Republicans opted for a map that was a little softer to prevent months of chaos during referendums and the possibility voters would change the outcome. Sykes, Landsman and Kaptur will still be able to survive in a Democratic-friendly environment — but, they’ll have fight for their seats.
