Ohio Republicans and Democrats have finalized a new congressional map after late-night negotiations, according to multiple reports. The agreement sees Democrats losing one House seat while Republicans maintain their majority advantage.
Democratic Rep. Emilia Sykes will be placed in a slightly more favorable northeast Ohio district, though it remains competitive. Democratic Rep. Greg Landsman faces a redder Cincinnati-area district, still deemed contestable. Democratic Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s northwest Ohio district has shifted slightly toward Republican leanings, despite her current seat having been won by President Donald Trump with a 7-point margin.
The existing Ohio delegation consists of 10 Republicans and five Democrats, with two additional Democratic representatives—Reps. Joyce Beatty and Shontel Brown—holding deep blue districts. Democrats still have a chance to challenge GOP-held seats held by Reps. Max Miller, Mike Carey, and Mike Turner.
The deal overturns a previous Republican plan to approve a 13-2 map favoring Republicans in November, avoiding a potential ballot campaign to overhaul the congressional boundaries. Ohio Senate President Rob McColley, R-Napoleon, expressed hope for a bipartisan agreement, noting improved discussions compared to prior weeks.
The seven-member Ohio Redistricting Commission is set to meet on October 30 to finalize the 15 new districts. In 2024, Landsman narrowly defeated Republican Orlando Sonza in the first district, marking the first Democratic victory in the Cincinnati area since 1984. Kaptur won her northwest Ohio seat by a slim margin, while Sykes secured re-election in the Akron region.