Ohio has approved a new congressional map that could give Republicans two additional House seats in the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
The move further strengthens the GOP’s position heading into a critical election cycle.
The Ohio Redistricting Commission voted unanimously Friday to adopt the new map, which favors Republicans in 12 of the state’s 15 congressional districts.
The Buckeye State now joins a growing list of Republican-led states redrawing their maps to solidify control of the U.S. House as part of a broader strategy encouraged by President Donald Trump.
Legal Mandate for Redraw
Unlike other states that have called special sessions to redraw maps, Ohio was legally required to approve a new one this year.
The state constitution mandates a redraw every four years if a map lacks bipartisan approval.
The previous map, passed in 2021, was valid for only a single four-year cycle after the Ohio Supreme Court struck down earlier drafts as too partisan.
Democrats on Defense
The new lines immediately put several Democrat incumbents at risk ahead of 2026.
Rep. Marcy Kaptur’s (D-OH) district, which Trump carried by seven points in 2024, now leans even further to the Right.
Rep. Greg Landsman’s (D-OH) Cincinnati-based seat will also shift more Republican.
Rep. Emilia Sykes (D-OH) of Akron could see a small boost from newly added Democrat precincts.
Even with those adjustments, the map heavily tilts toward the GOP, solidifying Republican dominance in much of the state.
DeWine: ‘This Darn Well Could Be a 12–3 Map’
Republicans could have rammed through a more aggressive gerrymander through the state Legislature, where they hold a supermajority, but opted instead for a bipartisan commission-backed plan.
That decision could help shield the map from legal challenges ahead of 2026.
According to Signal Ohio, Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who sits on the seven-member commission, said:
“I would just say this darn well could be a 12–3 map.
“Those are pretty darn good numbers, and I think it lessens a chance there’ll be a referendum that our side might lose.”
Trump-Backed Redistricting Push Gains Momentum
Ohio’s move comes as Republican-controlled states nationwide take action to secure favorable congressional boundaries before the midterms.
Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina have already approved new maps expected to net Republicans up to seven additional seats collectively.
Trump has urged GOP leaders in red states to move swiftly, warning that Democrats are mobilizing their own redistricting efforts in blue states.
Democrats Split Over Redrawing Their Own Maps
While Republicans advance new lines, Democrats are divided on how far to go.
In California, voters will decide in November whether to strip mapmaking power from the state’s “independent” redistricting commission and hand it to the Democrat-controlled Legislature, a change that could add up to five new Democrat seats.
Virginia Democrats are also pushing for a redraw that could give them as many as three additional seats.
But not every blue state is on board.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has faced pushback from Illinois Democrats over his call to revisit their already gerrymandered map.
And in Maryland, Democrat Senate President Bill Ferguson this week rejected demands for a special redistricting session, calling the idea “catastrophic.”
The Big Picture
The new Ohio map marks another win for Trump-aligned Republicans seeking to lock in long-term structural advantages in Congress.
With red states expanding their margins and some blue states hesitating, the GOP appears poised to enter 2026 with a redistricting edge, one that could help preserve its House majority well into the next decade.
READ MORE – Indiana Becomes Latest State to Join Republican Redistricting Efforts
Our comment section is restricted to members of the Slay News community only.
To join, create a free account HERE.
If you are already a member, log in HERE.