Ohio Democratic Party Chair Says Gerrymandering Makes Voters Feel Like Their Votes Don't Count

[TexasTowelie]

The clock is ticking toward the deadline for Ohio lawmakers to redraw a new congressional district map that can be used for the 2020 election. A federal court has given the state until June 14th to do that but Republican Attorney General Dave Yost’s office is appealing the decision. Democrats are excited about the prospect of possibly having new maps in time for next November’s elections.

Ohio Democratic Party Chairman David Pepper says he hopes the ruling will stand and state lawmakers will have to draw new maps. He says the current maps are so heavily gerrymandered to benefit Republicans that many voters lose faith in the electoral process.

“So, if you have fair maps in 20, I think it lifts Democratic turnout higher than it would normally be because for the most part, people in most of these districts think their vote didn’t matter and that’s exactly what the gerrymandering was intended to do," Pepper says.

Pepper says Democratic voters are also excited about the choices they have for the top of the ticket. At least 23 Democrats have announced they are running in the party’s primary for president.

https://www.statenews.org/post/ohio-democratic-party-chair-says-gerrymandering-makes-voters-feel-their-votes-dont-count
(no more at link)

[True Blue American]

1. David Pepper

Is 100% right! John Boehner drew those gerrymandered maps. Jim Jordan is one District being changed.

The man who took Boehner’s place said,” He did not intend to be a life time Politician.” We will see if he keeps that promise.

I saw Steve Chabot’s signs in Lebanon yesterday. The old fool retired once, a goofy woman won one term. Insulted a Military Hero on the House floor. Chabot decided to come back. He needs to go.

[No Vested Interest]

4. The goofy woman was Jean Schmidt, but represented (?) the 2nd district,

not the first. She was my representative (!) - hard to believe.

Steve Chabot (district 1) was defeated by a Dem. for one term.
Agree Chabot needs to go. Not the sharpest pencil in the box.
Cincinnati is now a Democratic city, and Hamilton County a Democratic county. Should be represented by a Democrat.

Brad Wenstrup (R) now represents District 2, stretching from eastern part of Cincinnati east to Appalachian counties.
Very conservative, but likely to remain in office as long as he likes because he is rather clean - served in Iraq as head of the prison there, plus saved the life of the LA congressman that was shot at a baseball game. He has no former elected political history to sully his name.

[True Blue American]

5. What about Westchester?

I remember when the areas all the way down the Ohio River voted for Obama. Never voted Democrat for over 100 years.

The Portman family owns or leases the Golden Lamb, family is very popular.

Sons MIL lives in Hamilton so I visit there.
Nice to hear they are changing. Dayton and Cincinnati are fast becoming one area.

I live North. 2 blocks from I 70.

[No Vested Interest]

9. Westchester is in Warren County, which was formerly in 2nd district (Schmidt), but gerrymandered

in 2012 into 1st district (Chabot's)by Republicans so that he could win despite Hamilton County going Democratic.

1st & 2nd Congressional districts are weirdly drawn for the express purpose of Republican win.

[True Blue American]

10. Thanks for that explanation.

See what happens June 14th!

[True Blue American]

6. I wondered about that. Jean Scmidt campaigned

In Lebanon in one of the Parades. Then saw the Chabot sign there.

Who took Jeans place? My Son votes Democrat, but is not into politics.

I remember watching one of the Parades. A woman was going around asking for signatures for a minor thing. I noticed she had the front page folded over. When she handed the petition to me, I flipped back the top page. It was an abortion petition. I told her loud enough so those around me heard. No one signed.

I thought my Son would fall out of his chair laughing..

[True Blue American]

7. Thanks for that info.

[Gothmog]

2. The GOP is the party of voter suppression

Gerrymandering does make voters less like to show up

[Ohiogal]

3. Damn straight!

I am so hopeful we’ll get more accurate representation with a new district map.

[True Blue American]

8. Judge just ruled against Trump

On Financial records!