Left-Wing Groups, Foreign Billionaire Bankrolling Ohio Redistricting Ballot Initiative

A foreign-born billionaire and progressive activist organizations are bankrolling an Ohio redistricting ballot initiative that could cost Republicans multiple congressional seats and revive liberal hopes in the red-leaning state.

Ohio Issue 1, the “Establish the Citizens Redistricting Commission Initiative,” would create a 15-member commission to create state-level and congressional redistricting maps. The commission would have five Democrats, five Republicans, and five independent members to be selected by a screening panel of two Democratic and two Republican retired judges, with help from a private hiring company.

If passed, Issue 1 would require proportional representation for legislative districts, potentially leading to significant political and racial gerrymandering to satisfy the measure’s requirements. Initial redistricting plans would be required by September 2025 and, from then on, by July 15 of each year ending in one, beginning with 2031.