Dennis Kucinich Appeals to Supporters in Light of Redistricting Threat
Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio could be squeezed out of Congress when state lawmakers redraw the Ohio congressional map next year, so the liberal stalwart is asking his supporters what his next move should be.
In an e-mail to supporters this week, Kucinich acknowledged that his seat in Congress could be eliminated because of the recently-released Census figures. Ohio is losing two congressional seats (and two Electoral College votes) after the decennial population count showed Americans moving out of the Midwest in favor of the South and the West.
Once the Census releases county-based demographic data early next year, the GOP-led Ohio legislature will redraw the state's congressional map so that there are 16 seats, rather than 18. Given the decreased population of the Cleveland area (which Kucinich represents), the Democrats' seat could be a target.
"In light of the strong chance that my district may be eliminated, my continued presence in Congress, to work for everything we care about, will obviously call for a much different strategy," Kucinich wrote to his supporters. "I will not wait until a new Ohio map is produced to begin this crucial discussion of the consequences of congressional redistricting. I will not wait until the Ohio Legislature produces a new map to start thinking of the options. The question will not be: Who is my opponent? The question will be: Where is my district? Seriously."
The seven-term congressman, who has won strong support in all of his re-election campaigns, asked for suggestions as to where he should run next.
Kucinich has previously run for the Democratic presidential nomination, but he told Fox News this week he won't be challenging President Obama in 2012.
