Published in The Plain Dealer | September 17, 2025
Leadership Now Senior Advisor Richard Stoff and member James Ratner co-authored an opinion piece in The Plain Dealer calling for fair redistricting in Ohio as essential to both democracy and economic competitiveness.
They argue that:
Gerrymandered maps weaken trust and fuel voter disengagement.
A fair map — modeled in a new report from the Electoral Innovation Lab, commissioned by Leadership Now — would better reflect Ohio’s real political makeup: 8 Republican-leaning seats, 3 Democratic seats, and 4 competitive districts.
Competitive districts restore accountability by requiring candidates to listen to voters, not just secure safe seats.
Stoff and Ratner make the case that democracy and the economy are intertwined:
“A functioning democracy is the bedrock of a stable economy. Trust is the foundation of competitiveness. If our people lose trust in our democracy, they will take their talent elsewhere.”
As Ohio prepares to redraw its congressional map before the 2026 midterms, their message is clear: fair maps mean fair competition, stronger trust, and a stronger Ohio economy.
