DeWine speaks out on redistricting

Gov. Mike DeWine has spoken: He doesn't like the redistricting proposal on the November ballot.

"I believe we must put an end to gerrymandering once and for all in Ohio," he told reporters today. "The only way to do this is to take politics completely out of the drawing of the maps."

Ohioans will vote on an amendment to replace the current system with a 15-member citizen panel that would craft congressional and legislative districts. The measure would remove elected officials from redistricting, which backers say will ensure they can't use the process to consolidate power.

DeWine himself believes politicians shouldn't be involved, but he doesn't think this is the solution. Instead, he pitched a model used by Iowa, where the legislative service commission crafts maps that lawmakers then approve. He pledged to work with the Legislature next year to put a new proposal before voters, regardless of the outcome in November.

House Minority Leader Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, noted that the Iowa model still gives elected officials a role in the process.

"The Governor had seven times to show leadership and stop gerrymandering," Russo posted on X . "He failed. Now, he wants to ignore demands for a citizen-led process that takes away the ability of politicians to manipulate their own maps."

Read more about DeWine's press conference here .

The latest Ohio Supreme Court campaign issue: Chicken wings

In case you missed it: The Ohio Supreme Court ruled last week that boneless chicken wings may indeed have bones in them.

An Ohio man sued after he ingested a surprise bone in an order of boneless wings, which led to an infection and multiple surgeries. Republican said the restaurant didn't do anything wrong because the "the consumer could have reasonably expected and guarded against the presence of the injurious substance in the food."

Democrats are highlighting this decision as they seek to retake control of the state Supreme Court in November. A spokesperson for the Ohio Democratic Party accused the GOP majority of "throwing common sense out the window to help special interests." State Sen. Bill DeMora, D-Columbus, said the ruling will have negative consequences for consumer protections.

"It’s #NationalChickenWingDay! How fitting that my opponent/junior colleague is headlining an event where light appetizers will be served," Justice Melody Stewart posted on X about a campaign event for Republican Justice Joe Deters. "I wonder if he’ll get some boneless wings that − despite the adjective − actually contain bones."

This certainly isn't the biggest issue in the Supreme Court races. Advocates for and against abortion access see the court as key to how Ohio's abortion rights amendment will be interpreted. But I won't be surprised if we see a few campaign ads about wings over the next few months.

Where is the Ohio Legislature?

You've probably noticed this newsletter lately has been more election talk than statehouse business.

The Legislature broke for the summer after they passed the capital budget and other legislation, including a controversial transgender bathroom bill . There have been some signs of life, such as a recent press conference over a measure to make sports fields 90% grass. But they won't be back in full force until after the November election.

This is par for the course in a major election year. But lawmakers struggled to get things done before now, even when they did meet − which could make for a crazy lame duck session in December.

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Haley BeMiller, political reporter

Questions or story ideas? Email me at hbemiller@gannett.com. You can find me on X @haleybemiller .

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: DeWine speaks out on redistricting