Debate Over Redistricting in Illinois and Texas
On Sunday, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker spoke with Kristen Welker on “Meet the Press,” where he implored Republicans to “let’s steal a seat” on Illinois’ congressional map.
In a move to block a GOP redistricting plan that could gain them up to five seats in the U.S. House, numerous Texas Democrats relocated to Democrat-controlled Illinois. Pritzker accused Texas Republicans of breaching the Voting Rights Act but failed to provide evidence to support his claim after Welker showcased a map enacted before the 2022 midterm elections.
Welker countered by stating, “Look, your state map—and all the major organizations that evaluate the fairness of congressional maps—give your state an F.” She quoted a nonpartisan watchdog that described Illinois’ map as “an almost perfect model for everything that’s wrong about redistricting.” She questioned how Pritzker could advocate for democracy while employing the same tactics he critiques in Texas.
Pritzker responded by framing the issue as a distraction, arguing, “The reality is that Texas is trying to violate people’s rights.” He asserted that the U.S. president is aware of the situation, emphasizing that democracy is at stake as Texas Democrats confront Republican actions.
Redistricting involves the redrawing of state legislative districts following the completion of the census, according to constitutional law.
The Princeton University Gerrymandering Project assigned an “F” grade to Illinois’ redistricting plan, which Pritzker signed into law in November 2021. Earlier, Pritzker had vowed to handle redistricting during his 2018 gubernatorial campaign.
In the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump garnered 43.5% of the votes in Illinois, a slight increase from the 40.6% he received in 2020.
Alongside Illinois’ reconfiguration to bolster Democratic power in the House, New York also adjusted its congressional districts following the 2022 midterms, putting six of the eleven Republicans elected that year at risk. Funding from left-leaning billionaire George Soros and former Democrat Beto O’Rourke aided Texas Democrats who had fled the state in an effort to disrupt the quorum.
