Ohio still has political punch. Next month, for example, U.S. Rep. John Boehner, R-West Chester, will become the first speaker from Ohio in nearly 80 years. But the state’s influence in Congress has waned — along with the influence of other Midwestern and Northeastern states — while California, Texas and other western and southern seats continued huge gains.
Texas will go from 32 to 36 seats, the only state to gain four seats and thus four additional members of Congress.
Ohio’s 1.6 percent population growth pales next to the 35 percent growth rate for Nevada, the nation’s fastest-growing state. Nevada will gain one seat.
In Ohio, drawing new districts will be an all-Republican production, with the Republican-controlled legislature next year drafting a law to be signed by incoming Gov. John Kasich.
At least one Democratic district in northeastern Ohio is expected to disappear on the new map, but Republican and Democratic strategists generally agree that eliminating two Democratic districts could be tough.
“It’s not impossible, but it’s pretty difficult,” said former Ohio Republican Chairman Bob Bennett.
Republicans are already well positioned in Ohio. Thanks to a virtual sweep of targeted Democratic seats in November, Republicans will control next year’s Ohio House delegation, 13-5.
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