A comparison of Ohio’s current congressional maps and a new Republican plan, which is expected to be approved this week, shows partisan advantages highlighted in color. Darker red areas indicate a strong Republican advantage, while darker blue areas signify a strong Democratic advantage. (Ohio General Assembly / Dave’s Redistricting App)
July 2, 2024 Story by: Editor
A three-judge panel has dismissed a motion from a Youngstown pastor and community activist to reconsider their claim that Ohio’s latest congressional map doesn’t adequately represent Black voters.
The dismissal, posted on Monday, came after U.S. District Court Judges John R. Adams and Solomon Oliver, Jr., along with Circuit Judge Joan L. Larsen, rejected a request from Reverend Kenneth Simon of New Bethel Baptist Church and community activist Helen Youngblood. They had sought to have the panel reconsider last year’s dismissal of a civil rights lawsuit filed in 2021.
The lawsuit, which was filed against Governor Mike DeWine, Secretary of State Frank LaRose, and the Ohio Redistricting Commission, argued that those who voted for Ohio’s Congressional and State Senate plan did not adequately consider the impact of the new map on Black voters in Mahoning County.
Citing the Voting Rights Act and constitutional issues, the complaint accused the Redistricting Commission of a “wholesale disregard” of their duties to draw legislative districts that ensure Black voters have an equal opportunity to participate in the political process and elect their preferred representatives.
The suit alleged that by merging Mahoning County with several traditionally Republican-leaning counties to the south, the voting power of the Black community would be diluted.
The judges found that Simon and Youngblood failed to demonstrate that it is possible to create a voting district representing a majority of Black voters without “crossover” votes from non-Black voters.
Moreover, the panel ruled that the relief sought by the lawsuit could not be provided by Governor DeWine and the other defendants.
In their ruling, the judges noted that Simon and Youngblood contradicted their own argument by claiming the defendants “intentionally decided to ignore race” while also asserting that the defendants “did not use demographic or racial data in the production of [their] maps.”
The panel granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss and denied the plaintiffs’ motions for a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction, and partial summary judgment. Source: 21WFMJ
