Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Constitutional common sense absent in 6th Circuit’s HB 1 ruling: Mark Brown

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 2d

Opinion
Constitutional common sense absent in 6th Circuit’s HB 1 ruling
House Bill 1 threatens just about every charity and membership organization that uses the marketplace of ideas in Ohio with a criminal investigation.
by Mark Brown
www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025...

Interestingly, the 6th Circuit’s refusal to block House Bill 1 did not address whether “Ohio’s ban on ballot-issue spending (as compared to spending on political candidates) by all foreign nationals v...

1

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 2d

Sign up to join the Ohio Fair Districts Good Trouble Brigade!
bit.ly/mapbrigade
#EndGerrymanderingOhio

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 4d

Join the Fair Districts Good Trouble Brigade
bit.ly/mapbrigade

Fair Districts Ohio @fairdistrictsoh.bsky.social · 4d

Join the Fair Districts Good Trouble Brigade
bit.ly/mapbrigade

Former Ohio GOP Chair Matt Borges, convicted in $60M FirstEnergy bribery scheme, gets early release from prison

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 5d

Former Ohio GOP Chair Matt Borges, convicted in $60M FirstEnergy bribery scheme, gets early release from prison

Borges served less than half of his five-year sentence for his role in HB6 scandal involving FirstEnergy. He was transferred to a halfway house in Cincinnati.
www.wkyc.com/article/news...

Borges served less than half of his five-year sentence for his role in the HB6 scandal involving FirstEnergy. He was transferred to a halfway house in Cincinnati.

www.wkyc.com

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 5d

The war over US congressional redistricting: How is it playing out, state by state?
By Joseph Ax
www.reuters.com/world/us/how...

www.reuters.com

FirstEnergy wins appeal to keep secret internal investigations on HB 6 bribery scandal

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 7d

FirstEnergy wins appeal to keep secret internal investigations on HB 6 bribery scandal
A panel of federal appellate judges ruled FirstEnergy doesn't have to release the results of two internal investigations into the House Bill 6 bribery scandal.
by Jeremy Pelzer
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

A panel of federal appellate judges ruled FirstEnergy doesn't have to release the results of two internal investigations into the House Bill 6 bribery scandal.

What the government shutdown and Ohio redistricting have in common

1

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 7d

Join us Weds, Oct 8 at 6pm, for the Fair Districts All Volunteer Huddle
At October's Huddle, we'll update you on Ohio’s congressional redistricting – where are we in the process? What hearings have been held? What can we expect next?
Plus much more!
RSVP
commoncause-org.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

2

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 9d

As members of Congress cause a government shutdown, Ohio has a stalemate of its own. Lawmakers missed their redistricting deadline, and with no future meeting set, targeted Democrats worry about fair representation on the national stage.
by Morgan Trau
www.news5cleveland.com/news/politic...

As members of Congress cause a government shutdown, OH has a stalemate of its own. It's day three of the federal government being shut down, with no possible end until next week.

www.news5cleveland.com

4 5

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 10d

Ogden Editorial
A new month, continued feet dragging on redistricting
If watching Congress has not been enough to make you wonder whether elected officials do any real work, or remember who they serve, Ohio lawmakers seem eager to answer with “No, not really.”
thecourier.com/news/639290/...

A new month, continued feet dragging on redistricting

Editorial 10-4-25

thecourier.com

1 3

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 11d

Opinion
In a stunning display of arrogance, Ohio GOP leaders have blown past the Sept. 30th deadline to draw congressional maps. And instead of acknowledging this failure, Huffman is offering excuses that would be comical if they weren’t so insulting to Ohio voters
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

From secret hotel rooms to grocery aisles? Matt Huffman’s ridiculous claims about redistricting

House Speaker Matt Huffman absurdly makes the case that grocery stores and Rotary Clubs are suitable replacements for the transparent, bipartisan mapping process mandated by Ohio voters

Ohio Gov's property tax group releases proposals, lawmakers still planning veto overrides • Ohio Capital Journal

7 7

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 11d

Ohio Gov’s property tax group releases proposals, lawmakers still planning veto overrides
by Nick Evans
ohiocapitaljournal.com/2025/10/03/o...

This week, an Ohio property tax reform group set up by the governor released its recommendations. The question now is whether anyone in the General Assembly is listening.

ohiocapitaljournal.com

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 12d

Plain Dealer Opinion:
“What was contemplated in the constitutional amendment is that our leaders would work in good faith,” Chris Quinn said. “To not propose a map at all before the deadline is not working in good faith. It’s sleazy beyond words.
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/10...

How Ohio Republicans are deliberately dodging their constitutional duty on U.S. House maps

GOP lawmakers fail to even propose a map before deadline, a calculated move to bypass bipartisan requirements and force through gerrymandered districts.

Analysis: Ohio GOP plays the waiting game on redistricting... again

4 5

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 12d

“This is a dog-and-pony show,” Catherine Turcer, exec director of Common Cause Ohio, said of the process that is unfolding now. “Based on what has happened so far, I have a hard time believing there will be a bipartisan map coming out of all of this.”
by Howard Wilkinson
www.wvxu.org/politics/202...

One month into a three-month process, statehouse Republicans hold all the cards in drawing new congressional district maps for Ohio.

Federal government shutdown could have big consequences in Ohio

4 3

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 13d

Federal government shutdown could have big consequences in Ohio
by Matthew Rand
www.wvxu.org/2025-10-01/g...

Along with potential delays to air travel and other government services, the shutdown leaves thousands of federal workers who live and work in Ohio facing furloughs or missed paychecks.

A GOP push to restrict voting by overseas U.S. citizens continues before 2026 midterms

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 13d

A GOP push to restrict voting by overseas U.S. citizens continues before 2026 midterms
by Hansi Lo Wang
www.wvxu.org/news-from-np...

Republican officials are pushing for more voting restrictions on U.S. citizens who were born abroad and have never lived in the country, after unsuccessfully challenging their ballots in 2024.

Ohio redistricting process hits dead end as Republicans play waiting game

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 14d

Mia Lewis, @commoncauseohio.bsky.social testified that she believed Republicans have a redistricting map ready to go and are keeping it under wraps until a time most advantageous to them

“Without a map to discuss & ultimately vote on this hearing is a sham”
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...

There are increasing signs that Republicans intend to wait out the process so they can redraw the state’s 15 U.S. House districts without Democratic support.

Trump’s war on mail-in voting is a crisis for Republicans who’ve praised Ohio elections

4

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 14d

Trump’s war on mail-in voting is a crisis for Republicans who’ve praised Ohio elections
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...

Ohio Republicans face impossible choice between Trump's baseless election fraud claims and their years of bragging about the state's secure, efficient voting system

Mike DeWine’s betrayal on fair maps will haunt Ohio for years: Leila Atassi

1 5

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 15d

Opinion
Mike DeWine’s betrayal on fair maps will haunt Ohio for years
It’s hard to overstate the disappointment we should all feel in DeWine’s betrayal.
Ohioans will be living with the consequences long after he leaves office.
by Leila Atassi
www.cleveland.com/opinion/2025...

Gov. Mike DeWine once vowed to lead Ohio out of gerrymandering, but after Issue 1’s defeat he broke his promise, leaving voters stuck with rigged maps and a democracy weakened by partisan manipulation...

From bipartisanship to power politics: why the promises of Ohio’s redistricting reform unraveled

1 10

Reposted by Common Cause Ohio

League of Women Voters of Ohio @lwvohio.bsky.social · 16d

From bipartisanship to power politics: why the promises of Ohio’s redistricting reform unraveled
“No matter how it’s done, you’re still going to wind up with a partisan process if you’re relying on partisan leaders”
-Tom Sutton
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...

Ohio voters passed new congressional redistricting rules in 2018 amid promises it would ensure bipartisan cooperation. Today, that expectation has all but vanished.

From bipartisanship to power politics: why the promises of Ohio’s redistricting reform unraveled

2 9 11

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 16d

ACTION:
The first deadline in Ohio’s Congressional redistricting process is Tuesday, Sept 30. The majority party has yet to produce any map for discussion, debate or adoption.
Call Rep. Brian Stewart & Senator Theresa Gavarone today & ask: Where’s the Map?
actionnetwork.org/forms/log-yo...

5 4

Common Cause Ohio @commoncauseohio.bsky.social · 16d

“This is not a flaw in the voters. It’s not a flaw in the Ohio Constitution. This is a flaw in map makers,”
-Catherine Turcer, Common Cause Ohio
www.cleveland.com/news/2025/09...

Ohio voters passed new congressional redistricting rules in 2018 amid promises it would ensure bipartisan cooperation. Today, that expectation has all but vanished.