Governor DeWine Opposes Redistricting Amendment

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine has announced his opposition to a redistricting amendment set for a vote this November, advocating instead for a system modeled after Iowa's, to be proposed in 2025. He argues that the current amendment, backed by Citizens Not Politicians, would lead to gerrymandering by focusing on proportionality rather than other factors like district compactness. The campaign for the amendment has spent nearly $25 million, with significant funds from out-of-state contributors. Critics, including retired Ohio Chief Justice Maureen O’Connor, accuse DeWine of spreading disinformation and defending a system that has repeatedly been ruled unconstitutional. Separately, Ohio has become the fifth state to allow state ID holders to link their IDs to Apple Wallet for TSA use and certain business verifications. Additionally, FirstEnergy Corp. is preparing to pay nearly $120 million to resolve investigations related to the House Bill 6 bribery scandal.