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Pressure mounts for an Illinois remap; Rep. Kelly Endorsed by 40+ elected officials and community leaders from Chicago’s South Suburbs
Pressure mounts for an Illinois remap; Rep. Kelly Endorsed by 40+ elected officials and community leaders from Chicago’s South Suburbs
Source: Politico Illinois
SCOOP: The 14 members of Illinois’ Democratic congressional delegation are urging state lawmakers to implement a new congressional map, and a progressive organization is launching a six-figure ad campaign pressuring Gov. JB Pritzker and state officials to redraw the boundaries, too — all after House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries made personal visits to Chicago and Springfield to advocate for a remap.
In a letter to state lawmakers, the Democratic members of Congress wrote they “firmly support advancing a new congressional map.”
“In the interest of minimizing disruption to the Illinois election calendar and providing voters certainty, we strongly encourage the legislature to seriously consider this new congressional map,” they add.
Congressmembers Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Robin Kelly (IL-02), Danny Davis (IL-07) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14) joined Jeffries in Chicago to show their support for the effort. “It’s the only path,” Jackson said. And Kelly added, “You’ve got to fight fire with fire.”
The mounting pressure comes as Jeffries’ party accelerates redistricting efforts nationwide to respond to Republicans doing the same. POLITICO’s home page story is here.
Jeffries pointed to the government shutdown as a key reason for Democrats to act. “The extreme policies that Donald Trump and Republicans have unleashed on Chicagoland, the state of Illinois and America are crushing people all across the land,” he told reporters after a meeting in Chicago with leaders of the Illinois House and Senate Black caucuses, members of Congress and at least one Chicago City Council member.
Jeffries then traveled to Springfield for meetings with House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch and Senate President Don Harmon.
NEW AD: Starting today, a group called Progressives for Democracy in America is launching a week-long digital ad blitz in Chicago, Springfield and suburban markets. The message: “Tell Governor Pritzker not to gamble with our democracy and stop Trump’s power grab.” One of the ads is here.
DCCC Executive Director Julie Merz, who’s also pushing Illinois to move ahead with redistricting, says state leaders have a map in hand that they can vote on. “Last week, a proposed congressional map was submitted to state legislative leaders in Illinois for their consideration,” she said in a statement, adding: “Importantly, the map preserves Black and Hispanic representation in key districts across the state, is [Voting Rights Act] compliant, and keeps together communities of interest.”
Not everyone is on board. Illinois state Sen. Willie Preston — who is running for the congressional seat currently held by Kelly, now seeking a U.S. Senate bid — said he would oppose any map that weakens Black political power. “We understand what’s at stake, but if Black representation is going to be diluted, that’s not a map I can support,” said Preston, who heads the Senate Black Caucus.
The Illinois Republican Party cried foul, saying, “JB Pritzker and Illinois Democrats have already gerrymandered Illinois to hell and back, creating one of most partisan maps in history.” The Illinois congressional delegation now has 14 Democrats and three Republicans.
And even Pritzker has appeared lukewarm. At an unrelated event last week, the governor noted that Jeffries’ team has floated a plan to “pair” states in redistricting. “If Missouri does it, maybe Maryland should do it. If Indiana does it, maybe Illinois should do it,” he said. “Nobody on our side thinks mid-cycle redistricting is proper. But if they’re doing it and it’s going to be legal, then apparently we’re going to have to think about responding.”
Jeffries’ Illinois visit coincided with a legislative session in which the General Assembly could take up the remap issue. “We’re not convinced that this is something that needs to happen in the next two to three days,” he told reporters after meeting with Welch.
BUSINESS OF POLITICS
— U.S. Senate: Congresswoman Robin Kelly has been endorsed by 40-plus elected officials and community leaders from Chicago’s South Suburbs in her bid for the U.S. Senate. On the list: former Congresswoman Marie Newman. Details here.
By Shia Kapos