Summit County’s Democratic heavyweights stood with Marcia Fudge this week at the Akron Urban League, showing their support as the Cleveland-area representative geared up her re-election campaign in the new 11th U.S. House District.
What a territory that is.
If the redistricting bill drawn by Republicans in the state legislature stands as orginally passed, Fudge, the former mayor of Warrensville Heights, will be running to represent part of Cuyahoga County, a thin strip of suburban communities snaking south along the western edge of Summit County, and parts of Akron. Modifications being discussed yesterday in Columbus would not significantly alter the shape of the district.
By locking down the support of players such as Summit County Executive Russ Pry, Akron Mayor Don Plusquellic and City Council President Marco Sommerville, Fudge signaled that she is ready for a primary battle.
Two other Democrats have filed. The main challenger is Nina Turner, a state senator who served on the Cleveland City Council and in the administration of former Cleveland Mayor Michael White.
The race is considered the most serious for Fudge since she won a special election in 2008 for the balance of the late Stephanie Tubbs Jones’ term.
By moving quickly to get the support of Akron-area Democrats, Fudge gained a big advantage in the primary. After that, who cares? The district is so heavily Democratic that winning the primary guarantees re-election.
In a brief interview after the Akron Urban League event, Fudge emphasized her support for policies that move cities forward. She promised to get to know Akron better, but it is clear that any program that helps Cleveland will almost certainly help Akron, too. After all, both are industrial cities in Northeast Ohio.
Getting the two cities to work together, however, has been far trickier business. In the eyes of many in Akron, when Clevelanders talk about “regionalism” they really mean “let’s do it our way.”
Fudge’s counter? Who better to bring the two cities together than a member of Congress whose district includes parts of both? “I become the bridge,” she said.
She will also have to work closely with three other members of Congress whose disticts will likely include parts of Summit County. One will almost certainly be another Democrat (Tim Ryan), but there is a good chance that the two others will be Republicans (Jim Renacci and Steve LaTourette). To be a bridge in that situation, Fudge may have to take up yoga.
Once back in Washington for another term, the difficulty will be to break through the partisan gridlock gripping the nation’s capital. Fudge does not see Ohio voters as ideological; rather, she sees the bitter partisan atmosphere as the product of voters swinging back and forth between the two parties out of frustration.
To break through the gridlock, voters must look for moderates willing to work across the aisle to achieve the necessary compromises, she said.
For her part, Fudge will have to move with care if she shifts toward the center on a major piece of legislation, the Nina Turners of her district ready to pounce in a primary contest that would likely attract hard-core Democrats, not moderates.
In defending their original redistricing bill, Republicans argued the 11th District was drawn to protect Fudge, the only African-American in the state delegation.
Although the Voting Rights Act doesn’t require it, Republicans gave Fudge a district with a voting-age population that is 51 percent African-American. In the process, the Democratic voting index came in at 80 percent, meaning that in most elections, 80 percent of the turnout would favor the Democratic candidate.
But by packing Democrats into four districts across the state, Republicans were able to create 12 districts favoring GOP candidates. While that might ease somewhat, Republicans will continue to dominate.
In other words, the congressional districts will contribute to political gridlock, not fix it.
Fudge raised no objections to the original, Republican-drawn map, indicating she had no position on the redistricting bill as a whole and no problem with the new minority-majority district in Cuyahoga and Summit counties, according to reports after a previous attempt at compromise failed.
To be sure, Republicans are ultimately in charge of redistricting. Still, Fudge’s tacit approval of a safe district will present challenges, and contribute to more voter frustration.
Hoffman is a Beacon Journal editorial writer. He can be reached at 330-996-3740 or by email at slhoffman@thebeaconjournal.com.
