Rep. Kucinich contemplates move from Ohio to Washington state

Democratic Rep. Dennis Kucinich is contemplating a novel way to deal with redistricting woes.

The Ohio congressman is apparently thinking about moving, from his home state to Washington state, ahead of a potentially difficult 2012 re-election race. Rumors of the relocation were raised Monday by The Stranger, and Kucinich's office subsequently failed to deny the talk.

Nathan White, Kucinich's communications director, sent the following statement to the Seattle Times and the Daily Caller Monday, suggesting that the congressman is actually entertaining offers to move out of state:

After people found out that Congressman Kucinich's district could be eliminated or substantially altered in congressional redistricting by the Ohio Legislature's Republican majority, Congressman Kucinich received requests from people in twenty states, including Washington State, encouraging him to move and run in their area. The Daily Show interview is instructive of this sentiment.

Congressman Kucinich appreciates the interest expressed in his public service. 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.

The state of Ohio is set to lose two House seats (from 18 to 16) in the next round of redistricting, based on population data from the 2010 census. Kucinich's 10th District may be one of them.

Washington state, on the other hand, stands to gain a district (from nine total to ten.)

Kucinich, an outspoken, liberal, seven-term congressman who ran twice for president, has made several trips to Washington state this year, including a stop last weekend during which he hinted at his indecision about 2012.

"I intend to stay in Congress. I just don't know where my district will be," Kucinich told the Washington audience Friday.

(Photo of Kucinich: Ted S. Warren/AP)