Cleveland, OH

Ohio Issue 1 anti-gerrymandering amendment appears heading for defeat

Published

2 hours ago

November 6, 2024

Ohio Issue 1 anti-gerrymandering amendment appears heading for defeat

COLUMBUS – Ohioans on Tuesday appeared to reject an amendment that would have created a new citizen-led commission in charge of drawing legislative districts, opting instead to keep the old politics-dominated system.

With nearly 80% of the vote tallied, Issue 1 was trailing with 45.5% of the vote, unofficial tallies from the Ohio secretary of state showed. The issue was opposed by 54.5%.

The issue trailed by more than 400,000 votes.

Decision Desk, a race calling service used by media companies, called the issue as going down to defeat. The Associated Press, which cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer use, had not announced its call in the race as of 10:50 p.m.

Opponents of Issue 1 roared at an Ohio Works election gathering in Columbus as Ohio Republican Party Chair Alex Triantafilou declare the issue was going down to defeat.

Triantafilou led the crowd in an “O-H” “I-O” cheer as the crowd cheered.

Ohio Senate President Matt Hoffman, a contender for Ohio House speaker in the next General Assembly, praised Gov. Mike DeWine’s efforts for stopping the amendment. DeWine, in July, said the plan in Issue 1 was the wrong approach.

“We were dead in the water in July, and Gov. Mike DeWine turned this thing around,” Huffman said.

Issue 1’s backers had sought to strip politicians of power that Republicans wielded to draw themselves historic supermajorities in the state legislature and a two-to-one advantage in the state’s congressional delegation.

The independent commission made up equally of Democrats, Republicans and political independents would have drawn new maps next year for the 2026 elections, and then every decade.

But Republicans, who dominated the political map drawing process, opposed the issue. They argued it would set up a process that would empower a panel that voters could never hold accountable. That commission, they argued, would be unchecked on spending power.

And the amendment itself, with a goal of making maps with representation proportional to Ohio’s voting trends, they claimed, would require gerrymandering – the very problem that Issue 1 aimed to change.

Backers of the amendment were far better funded than its opponents, raising about $40 million at last count. But Republican opponents erected a major hurdle for the reform campaign in the language voters saw on their ballots.

Backers of the amendment had argued that Republicans stacked the deck against the amendment with ballot language, written by Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s office, that claimed the amendment would require gerrymandering, the very thing backers said they wanted to eliminate. The GOP-led Ohio Ballot Board approved the language, which Issue 1 proponents said was purposely meant to confuse voters.

But the Republican-led Ohio Supreme Court sided 4-3 with the Ballot Board, leaving intact most of a Republican-authored ballot summary that paints the proposal in an unfavorable light.

Among other things, the court’s Republican majority let stand wording stating that a proposed new redistricting commission is “not elected by or subject to removal by the voters of the state” and would be “required to gerrymander” congressional and legislative districts.

Issue 1 was backed by a bipartisan coalition led by former Ohio Supreme Court Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, a Republican, and arose out of frustration that despite amendments approved overwhelmingly in 2015 and 2018 to stop excessive political gerrymandering, the practice continued. Support for each of those issues eclipsed 70%.

But when the new system set up by the amendments was put to the test, Republicans who dominated the redistricting ignored the rules in the constitution.

And when the Ohio Supreme Court served as a check on the commission, rejecting maps as unconstitutional, the GOP mapmakers used them anyway. The seven-member Ohio Redistricting commission includes five Republicans and two Democrats.

With Tuesday’s vote, that system for redistricting remains in place.

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Cleveland, OH

LIVE: Election Day 2024: Presidential race, Ohio candidate results, interactive maps

Published

13 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Press Room

LIVE: Election Day 2024: Presidential race, Ohio candidate results, interactive maps

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – 19 News has you covered this election season. We will be live all Tuesday evening bringing you the latest results.

Polls in Ohio closed at 7:30 p.m. Votes are now being tabulated.

You can find the latest election results HERE.

Covering the races that matter to you

19 News has a team of reporters covering the presidential race and Ohio Issue 1.

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump each need at least 270 electoral votes to win the presidency.

Plus, we have crews at the headquarters for Senate candidates Bernie Moreno and Sherrod Brown.

It’s a close race in which the businessman is challenging the 17-year incumbent.

You will find us in Lorain County covering the prosecutor race, and in Portage County covering the sheriff race.

Check out the stories below to dive deeper into 19 News’ election coverage.

19 News Team Coverage: 2024 General Election: America Decides

What to know about Ohio Issue 1

Issue 1, an anti-gerrymandering measure on the 2024 ballot, has received a lot of voter criticism over the way it is presented when voting.

Live coverage on Election Night

Data Journalists Jeff Slawson and Dan DeRoos are hosting a panel of elections experts for 19 News Now.

You can watch live in the video player above.

As always, you can count on 19 News to cover the issues that matter to you and stick to the facts.

Track the latest with our interactive maps

With our interactive maps, you can track minute-by-minute updates in national and state races.

Our 2024 Presidential Election Map breaks down how each state is voting in the race to 270 electoral votes.

In our Ohio Interactive Results Map, you can view demographic data, including county-by-county winners.

The 2024 General Election Interactive Map offers a deeper look at national and state election data.

2024 Presidential Election Map | Ohio Interactive Results Map | 2024 General Election Interactive Map

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Cleveland, OH

Detroit Tigers Receive Bold Prediction From MLB Insider on How Offseason Will Unfold

Published

1 day ago

November 5, 2024

Press Room

Detroit Tigers Receive Bold Prediction From MLB Insider on How Offseason Will Unfold

There wasn’t a bigger surprise during the 2024 MLB season than the Detroit Tigers.

Not much was expected from the team, especially after they made it clear they were selling ahead of the deadline. Even ace Tarik Skubal was involved in some rumors, but they opted to hold onto him.

It proved to be the right decision.

What unfolded over the final two months of the regular season was unprecedented. Despite being double-digit games out of a playoff spot, the Tigers got scorched Earth levels hot and made a run to the postseason.

Detroit would defeat the Houston Astros in the Wild Card Round before being defeated by their American League Central rivals Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.

It was an incredible run that assuredly has the front office and ownership rethinking their offseason plans. They are no longer sellers; this is a team that will be looking to make some moves to improve their outlook even more.

As a result, MLB insider Jesse Rogers will be keeping a close eye on the franchise. He made a bold prediction about the Tigers, as he believes they will dominate headlines this offseason.

“Detroit won’t rest on its laurels after a surprising postseason run. The Tigers have money to spend and a good farm system to trade from if necessary. By the end of the season, their rotation consisted of Tarik Skubal and not a whole lot else. It shouldn’t be hard to attract an arm or two considering Detroit’s spacious ballpark,” he wrote in a piece for ESPN.

Manager A.J. Hinch pushed all of the right buttons with his pitching staff down the stretch. They were winning playoff games using entirely bullpen options.

While success was found in spurts, it isn’t a sustainable strategy to win games. Detroit needs some reinforcements behind Skubal and better injury luck for players such as Reese Olson, Casey Mize and Matt Manning.

While that is the most pressing need, the lineup has some issues to address as well. Expect some punch to be added to the mix as well this winter.

“The Tigers were a bottom-third team in OPS, so in addition to allowing their young hitters to grow, there’s room to add a bat as well. Detroit probably won’t do anything too drastic, but arriving to the postseason a year early should push the front office, perhaps leading to a surprise signing that no one saw coming,” Rogers added.

The arrow is certainly pointed up in the Motor City. With a little postseason experience under their belts this year, expect October baseball in Detroit for years to come.

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Cleveland, OH

Northeast Ohio school levies you’ll see on the ballot

Published

1 day ago

November 5, 2024

Press Room

Northeast Ohio school levies you’ll see on the ballot

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – Election Day is just around the corner, so make sure you are prepared before casting your vote.

19 News Team Coverage: 2024 General Election: America Decides

Election Day 2024: Everything you need to know to cast your ballot in Northeast Ohio

As Election Day approaches for Northeast Ohio, there is information you need to know to make your vote count.

FREE RIDES to your polling place available Tuesday

Cuyahoga and Lake County residents are able to get a free ride to their polling place on Election Day. Here’s how.

Why is ‘Issue 1′ confusing Ohio voters once they get their ballot?

Issue 1, an anti-gerrymandering measure on the 2024 ballot, has received a lot of voter criticism over the way it is presented when voting.

Ohio Decides: Challenger Bernie Moreno takes on 17-year incumbent Sherrod Brown in senate race

Businessman Bernie Moreno will take on 17-year incumbent Sherrod Brown. What to know about both candidates.

Lorain County Decides: Candidates vie for prosecutor seat as incumbent faces criminal charges

Incumbent JD Tomlinson is being challenged by Republican Tony Cillo. What to know about both candidates.

Portage County Decides: What you need to know about the sheriff race

19 News profiles candidates Bruce Zuchowski and Jon Barber, plus looks at the controversies surrounding this race.

Traffic cameras on the ballot in Garfield Heights

Garfield Heights residents will be voting on whether or not to allow traffic cameras solely on I-480. Here’s why it matters to anyone who travels there.

Northeast Ohio school levies you’ll see on the ballot

Here is what to know about the local school levies that may appear on your ballot.

Here is what you need to know about the local school levies you could see on your ballot:

Cleveland Metropolitan School District – Issue 49

The purpose of this issue bond/tax levy for $249 million is for the construction, remodeling, enlarging, furnishing, equipping, and improving district facilities.