Kucinich may look to Washington State if his Ohio seat falls in redistricting

Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s (D-Ohio) district might be on the chopping block thanks to redistricting, but the Ohio Democrat is determined to stay in Congress, even if he has to run in another state.

Speculation that Kucinich is looking to Washington state as a new home is running wild in political circles there, and Kucinich’s office isn’t squashing it. 

{mosads}A Kucinich spokesman told the Seattle Times that after it became clear the Democrat was likely to lose his district in Ohio, he “received requests from people in 20 states, including Washington state, encouraging him to move and run in their area.”

“Congressman Kucinich appreciates the interest expressed in his public service,” Kucinich spokesman Nathan White told the paper. “As he has repeatedly said, he fully intends to remain in Congress; he just doesn’t know in what district he will run. In the meantime, he is devoted to serving Ohio’s 10th district as it currently stands.”

Kucinich held a fundraiser in Washington late last week, detailing his redistricting woes for the crowd.

The Ohio Democrat is among the few members who have taken a public approach to the potential elimination of his district, already trying to mobilize his supporters through email and fundraising appeals.

While Ohio must shed two House seats, one of them is almost certain to come from the northern part of the state, and Kucinich’s district is the most likely target. If he doesn’t end up drawn into a district with Rep. Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), he could find himself having to run against Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) if he wanted to continue representing the state.

“Running against a colleague isn’t in my thinking right now, but I intend to remain in Congress,” he told The Ballot Box earlier this year.