A foreign billionaire funneled hundreds of millions of dollars to a leftist dark money donor behind Ohio ballot measure Issue 1 — a redistricting initiative that could give Democrats a permanent advantage in Ohio. The state enacted a ban on foreign funding of such initiatives earlier this year.
Ohio residents will vote in November on Issue 1, which would establish a commission of “non-politician” appointees to redraw district lines, according to Ballotpedia. The commission would consist of five Republican members, five Democrat members, and five independent or otherwise affiliated members.
The primary group behind Issue 1 — Citizens Not Politicians — has taken funding from the Sixteen Thirty Fund, a branch of leftist dark money giant Arabella Advisors, financial records show. According to a watchdog report, the group has received hundreds of millions in funding from Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss.
Republicans and election integrity advocates have raised concerns about the initiative, arguing it could essentially result in redistricting that largely favors Democrats, possibly helping the party gain control of Congress.
“What they’re after is the ultimate prize of flipping three to four congressional seats in the state of Ohio,” Republican state Sen. Rob McColley told The Federalist.“That would potentially be the difference between the control of the United States House of Representatives being Republican or Democrat.”
Honest Elections Project Executive Director Jason Snead echoed these concerns, equating the initiative to “a power grab by the left” that’s “designed to do an end run around the democratic process in Ohio.”
“It’s all designed
