Redistricting, recreational marijuana and masks: Ohio politics podcast

Senate President Matt Huffman listens to an Ohioan voice his concern over Ohio House and Senate district draft maps during a meeting at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio on September 9, 2021. Huffman is one of seven on the Ohio Redistricting Commission.

Ohio’s primary is up in the air again after the state Supreme Court tossed out another set of statehouse district maps. Lawmakers are unlikely to vote on recreational marijuana, and Democratic Rep. Joyce Beatty made national news. 

We break down what it all means on this week’s episode of Ohio Politics Explained.

It’s a podcast from the USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau where we catch you up on the state’s political news in 15 minutes or less. This week, host Anna Staver was joined by reporter Laura Bischoff.

1) Redistricting remix

Ohio mapmakers went back to the drawing board again this week after the state Supreme Court threw out their second attempt at creating House and Senate districts. 

“The revised plan does not attempt to closely correspond to that constitutionally defined ratio. Our instruction to the commission is – simply – to comply with the Constitution,” the opinion stated.

After the decision came down, Senate President Matt Huffman, R-Lima, told reporters he isn’t sure they can draw what the court wants, and it might be time to think about moving Ohio’s May primary for some races.


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