Ohio Congressional Map Highlights Population Issue

COLUMBUS (WCMH) — Ohio’s new congressional map has been criticized for favoring Republicans, but lawmakers on both sides of the aisle acknowledge that the map shows another big problem.

Instead of 16 congressional districts, Ohio only attracted 15 this year.

The U.S. Census showed that Ohio’s population lagged behind the rest of the country.

It’s a trend that’s been going on for decades, and Democrats and Republicans say something has to be done.

The problem is they can’t decide what.

Republicans say giving Ohioans incentives to stay in the state, like good-paying jobs, is the way to turn the tide.

Democrats cite some of the most extreme bills passed by the Legislature as the reason people are fleeing.

“The brand is there now, they’re calling us the Mississippi of the North in terms of where we are politically, and the results are really clear, people are moving away from our state,” state Rep. Casey Weinstein said. (D-Hudson).

“Democrats will be like, ‘Oh, those scary Republican policies are the reason for it,'” said State Sen. Niraj Antani (R-Miamisburg). “Well, that’s not true and that’s not true because Texas and Florida are two of the states that are gaining congressmen.”

Gov. Mike DeWine signed the controversial congressional cards over the weekend. Fair card advocates warn that a lawsuit is most likely to come.