Why should you care if Ohio is breaking its own laws? Even if you don’t live there, what happens in Ohio is a test run for undermining democracy everywhere. Lisa Senecal and David Pepper break down how gerrymandering in Ohio isn’t just about redrawing lines — it’s about locking in power, ignoring the law, and setting a dangerous precedent for the rest of the country.
This isn’t just a local problem. States like Texas, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Michigan are all watching — and many are already using the same playbook: break the rules, stack the courts, and keep power no matter what voters want.
If this kind of thing was going on in Hungary or Russia, we’d call it out in a heartbeat. We’ve got to do the same when these threats to democracy show up right here at home.
In Ohio, a Supreme Court justice (the governor’s own son) ruled on cases involving his father and redistricting and didn’t even bother to recuse himself (Experts Question Ethics of Gov. Mike DeWine's Son Sitting on Ohio Supreme Court During State Redistricting Case). Ohio’s congressional map is so blatantly rigged that even when simulations produced fairer, legal maps, the powers that be ignored them. Until courts are willing to hold lawmakers accountable, the lawbreaking will continue — and that affects all of us, shaping who controls Congress and the presidency.
But it’s not too late to make a difference. Pennsylvania was in a similar position not long ago, and they managed to claw their way back through attention, outrage, and action. If we let Ohio’s lawlessness slide, we’re opening the door for it everywhere else. Americans are quick to defend democracy when it’s threatened abroad; we need to bring that same urgency and commitment to protecting it here at home.
Nobody can break down why this matters better than David Pepper. Gerrymandering is one of those things most people might think is a little wonky, and maybe don’t pay much attention to. But Lisa & David get heated about it in this discussion. Watch now and see why.
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