Ohio mapmakers scramble to avoid facing state’s high court

By JULIE CARR SMYTH
Associated Press

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Republicans on Ohio’s political map-making panel are scrambling to put forth legislative maps that can pass constitutional muster. GOP members, including Gov. Mike DeWine, seek to avoid a summons to appear before the Ohio Supreme Court under threat of contempt. Republicans on the Ohio Redistricting Commission released a new plan late Thursday giving Republicans a 54-45 Ohio House majority and an 18-15 Ohio Senate majority. That comes the closest yet of any plan to matching Ohio’s political breakdown. Two previous attempts were invalidated as gerrymandered. It wasn’t immediately clear whether passage of new maps would avert Tuesday’s comtempt proceeding.