Ohio Apportionment Board Approves New Districts

Republican-drawn boundaries for Ohio's legislative districts have cleared a state board, likely bolstering the GOP's grip on the General Assembly for the next decade. The Ohio Apportionment Board is charged with redrawing the lines every 10 years to reflect shifts in population after each census. The board approved the GOP-proposed districts with a 4-1 vote on Wednesday after accepting several revisions requested by incumbent lawmakers. The plans pit three House Democrats against Republicans, and several other Democrats could potentially compete with one another in merged Democratic districts. The panel consists of four Republicans - Gov. John Kasich,  Senate President Tom Niehaus, Auditor Dave Yost and Secretary of State Jon Husted - and one Democrat, House Minority Leader Armond Budish. Budish voted against the plans.