In 2012, Ohio Republicans took a novel approach to redistricting: even though the state was forced to axe two seats, they created a new Democratic seat in Columbus to shore up nearby GOP incumbents, eliminating two Democrats and one Republican elsewhere. The gambit has paid off: Republicans won a 12-4 House edge in 2012, even though President Obama won the state.
If Democrats were to have any hope of gaining the House, they would need to be competitive in currently lopsided states like Ohio. At the moment, the only two Republicans in remotely competitive races are GOP Reps. Bill Johnson (OH-06) and David Joyce (OH-14). But, in the current political environment, Democratic attorneys Jennifer Garrison and Michael Wager are still long shots.
OH-01: Steve Chabot (R) - Southwest corner: Cincinnati, Warren County Solid Republican. This Cincinnati seat was a classic battleground throughout the last two decades, but when Republicans added heavily GOP Warren County to the 1st CD in 2012 redistricting, it was game over. Chabot, who has represented this seat since 1994 with only one exception between 2008 and 2010,
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