Ohio ACLU and League of Women Voters file challenge to the state's new Congressional map

A coalition of voter rights groups has filed a challenge to the state's new Congressional district map in the Ohio Supreme Court.

The ACLU of Ohio, League of Women Voters, and the A. Philip Randolph Institute filed the lawsuit in the Ohio Supreme Court, along with other individuals named as plaintiffs in the case.

The challenge argues that the new congressional district map creates unnecessary splits -- specifically naming Hamilton, Cuyahoga, and Summit counties -- in order to "minimize the efficacy of Democratic votes."

The map which passed the Ohio House and Senate with only Republican support, creates 12 out of 15 districts that favor of Republicans.

Opponents of the map say Republican lawmakers violated the constitution by not following the anti-gerrymandering reforms approved by voters in 2018.

“Our elected officials have once again flagrantly violated the will of Ohioans, who have repeatedly voted for fair districts. Judicial intervention is critical to prevent these self-serving officials from perpetuating the terrible tradition of extreme partisan gerrymandering in our state," said Freda Levenson, ACLU of Ohio legal director, in a statement released Tuesday evening.

However, Gov. Mike DeWine and other Republican leaders say the map creates compact districts and avoids splitting most of Ohio's largest cities.

The same collection of groups filed a legal challenge to the new state legislative district maps that retain a Republican supermajority advantage in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate. Oral arguments for that case are scheduled for December 8.

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