Leader Sykes statement as governor greenlights Republican gerrymandered map

Ohio House Minority Leader Emilia Strong Sykes (D-Akron) issued a statement as Gov. DeWine signed into law the Republican-passed partisan, four-year congressional district map that unduly favors GOP candidates 13-2. Leader Sykes and House Democrats sent a letter Thursday to the governor urging his veto of the gerrymandered map. 

“In 2018, then Attorney General DeWine said that if he became governor, he would ensure the redistricting process honored the voters’ wishes for bipartisanship. Today, he went back on his word and betrayed Ohio voters by signing into law the most egregiously gerrymandered congressional map in the country, which splits apart communities and unduly favors Republicans 13-2. 

“From the start, Republicans refused to negotiate in good faith. They dismissed concerns raised by citizens and disrespected the voters who demanded fair maps. Signing these gerrymandered maps into law makes the governor as complicit as the Republican majority who passed them. This is a shameful abuse of power, a sad day for our democracy, and another reminder that Republicans are unfit to lead our state.”