Republicans say they will appeal a federal ruling that orders Ohio to draw a new congressional map for the 2020 elections.
Ohio Attorney General David Yost said Friday the state will seek a stay of the ruling while appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati ruled Friday Ohio's congressional districts were unconstitutionally drawn by the Republicans for their political advantage, ensuring a 12-4 GOP majority in the congressional delegation. The judges say the map violates voters' rights to democratically select their representatives. The ruling blocks Ohio from holding another election under the current map. Yost pointed out Ohioans have already passed reforms to the mapmaking. He says the ruling "takes that decision out of the hands of the people." He calls it a "fundamentally political act" without constitutional basis. Voters' rights and Democratic groups sued Ohio Republican officials, who said it was drawn with bipartisan support.
