Elections

Here’s how the Valley’s legislative districts will change for the Aug. 2 election

By Mahoning Matters staff
Shown here are the Ohio legislative district maps that will be in place for the state’s special primary election, which will include state legislative races and central committee races and must be held on Aug. 2, per a federal court order. These district maps were previously invalidated by the Ohio Supreme Court for being gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates.
Shown here are the Ohio legislative district maps that will be in place for the state’s special primary election, which will include state legislative races and central committee races and must be held on Aug. 2, per a federal court order. These district maps were previously invalidated by the Ohio Supreme Court for being gerrymandered to favor Republican candidates. (Office of Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose)

[Editor’s note: This article was first published in Mahoning Matters’ free morning newsletter, Morning Matters. Subscribe here to get this kind of essential news and analysis in your email inbox every day.]

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Late last week, a federal court ordered Ohio to hold a special primary election on Aug. 2, using a set of legislative district maps previously invalidated by the Ohio Supreme Court for being gerrymandered to favor Republicans.

  • “We recognized from the outset that choosing a remedy would be challenging,” Circuit Judge Amul Thapar wrote in the 2-1 majority opinion. “And between the standoff among state officials and the delay in getting the case, our options were limited. ... So we chose the best of our bad options.”

Previously: The Ohio Supreme Court rejected the Ohio Redistricting Commission’s fifth submission, which, like the special election plan, was previously invalidated by the high court.

What’s next: The Supreme Court last week ordered the commission to submit a new set of maps by this Friday. The commission may seek an extension “for good cause.”

Right now: The maps will only be in place for the Aug. 2 special election.

  • “The Ohio Redistricting Commission still has the responsibility to draw fair, constitutional maps for the rest of the decade, and I will continue to work toward that goal,” said Democratic state Sen. Vernon Sykes of Akron.

Let’s take a look at how the Aug. 2 maps will change legislative districts in the Mahoning Valley, as analyzed by Dave’s Redistricting:

Ohio House

Shown here are Ohio House district maps from 2020 (left) and 2022 (right), showing how those districts will be aligned for the state’s special election on Aug. 2, 2022, per a court order.
Shown here are Ohio House district maps from 2020 (left) and 2022 (right), showing how those districts will be aligned for the state’s special election on Aug. 2, 2022, per a court order. (Dave's Redistricting App)

In Mahoning County: The biggest change is that Youngstown will be moved from the 58th House District to the temporary 59th, which will also include Beloit, New Middletown, North Lima, Poland and Sebring in Mahoning County, and the northwestern part of Columbiana County. The temporary 58th will include Austintown, Campbell, Canfield, Craig Beach, Lowellville and Struthers.

  • The temporary 58th House District will go from having 65% Democrat and 33% Republican voters to having 49% Democrat and 49% Republican voters.
  • The temporary 59th House District will go from having 56% Republican and 42% Democrat voters to having 51% Democrat and 47% Republican voters.

In Trumbull County: The city of Warren will stay in the 64th House District, but that district will now stretch east to include much of the current 63rd House District territory, including Girard, Hubbard, McDonald, Niles and Vienna. The rest of Trumbull County will be in the 65th.

  • The temporary 64th House District will have 54% Democrat and 44% Republican voters. The current 63rd House District has 50% Republican and 48% Democrat voters.
  • The temporary 65th House District will have 61% Republican and 37% Democrat voters. The current 64th House District has 51% Republican and 47% Democrat voters.

In Columbiana County: The northwestern part of the county will be part of the temporary 59th House District, while the rest — including Columbiana, East Palestine, Leetonia, Lisbon and Salem — will become part of the temporary 79th, which will also include all of Carroll County.

  • The temporary 79th House District will have 67% Republican and 30% Democrat voters.

Ohio Senate

Shown here are Ohio Senate district maps from 2020 (left) and 2022 (right), showing how those districts will be aligned for the state’s special election on Aug. 2, 2022, per a court order.
Shown here are Ohio Senate district maps from 2020 (left) and 2022 (right), showing how those districts will be aligned for the state’s special election on Aug. 2, 2022, per a court order. (Dave's Redistricting App)

In Trumbull County: The temporary 32nd Senate District will still include all of Trumbull and Ashtabula counties, and will expand to include more territory in the top half of Geauga County.

  • Its party demographics will stay mostly the same, with 54% Republican and 44% Democrat voters.

In Mahoning and Columbiana counties: The temporary 33rd Senate District will still include all of Mahoning and Columbiana counties, and will expand to include all of Carroll County.

  • Its party demographics will shift Republican by about 2%, with 54% Republican and 44% Democrat voters.

This story was originally published May 31, 2022 at 3:30 PM.