Rep. Isaacsohn Rejects Governor DeWine's Mischaracterization of Citizens Not Politicians Redistricting Amendment

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Dani Isaacsohn (D-Cincinnati) today released the following statement in response to Governor Mike DeWine’s opposition to the citizen-led redistricting ballot initiative known as Citizens Not Politicians: 

“Ohioans are ready for a legislature that actually represents the people. Republicans at the Statehouse are afraid of the upcoming citizen-led ballot initiative, so they are clinging to power that they didn’t earn,” said Rep. Isaacsohn.

Despite Governor DeWine’s insistence that this citizen-led initiative will make the map-drawing process more political, the Citizens Not Politicians ballot initiative will actually:

• Create a 15-member Ohio Citizens Redistricting Commission, made up of Democratic, Republican, and Independent citizens that broadly represent different geographic areas and demographics of the state.
• Ban current or former politicians, party officials, or lobbyists from serving on the Commission.
• Require fair and impartial districts, making it unconstitutional to draw districts that discriminate against or favor a certain party or politician.
• Require the commission to operate using an open and independent process.

“26 out of the 33 members in Ohio’s state Senate are Republicans. Ask yourself: ‘Does that seem representative of the people in Ohio? Are almost 80 percent of people in the state from one political party?’ The answer is self-evident, including to the people who rigged the process in the first place. That’s why they are making desperate arguments to preserve the anti-democratic system. Ohio voters have the power to choose fair maps and representative government this November,” said Rep. Isaacsohn.