CHICAGO (WGN) — One of the top congressional Democrats was in Chicago on Monday to push for redrawing the Illinois congressional maps.
U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Illinois must view the effort as an urgent priority.
“This is a very challenging time for our country,” said Jeffries, who met with some Black Illinois legislators.
The call-to-action aims to help the Democrats gain an additional seat in Congress, a response they say is similar to efforts by Republicans across the country. If Illinois lawmakers take action, it likely has to be this week, while state lawmakers are in Springfield for the fall veto session. Voting on redrawn maps could be added to the agenda.
“[President] Donald Trump and Republicans have decided that they‘re going to try to gerrymander congressional maps all across the country as part of their effort to rig the midterm elections, and deny the American people the ability to decide who should hold the gavels in the aftermath of the elections that will take place in November of 2026,” Jeffries said.
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Jeffries’ visit was also intended to assuage fears that redrawing congressional maps in Illinois could dilute the majority of Black districts and result in fewer black voices in Congress.
“What I communicated to Leader Jeffries, whom we’re fully behind, is if that map dilutes Black votes, I’m not only a ‘No,’ I’m going to lobby other Black, Latino, and my white colleagues to vote ‘No,'” said Illinois State Representative Willie Preston.
Jeffries added that there is an unwavering commitment to preserving African Americans’ and Latinos’ representation in Illinois. Currently, Democrats control 14 of Illinois’s congressional seats. Republicans hold three. Though new maps have not yet surfaced, the congressional districts that could be affected are the 16th, 2nd, and 1st.
Illinois State Representative Jonathan Jackson represents the 1st district on Chicago’s South Side, which could be cracked open to move blue voters into red areas.
“We are committed to working together to make sure we can take a majority back. This is the only path forward for the democratic party and to save the nation,” Jackson said.
In a written statement, Illinois Republicans said, “As Illinois families feel the pain of a government shutdown, Hakeem Jeffries is ignoring his duty in Washington to try to turn Illinois’ maps into even more of a pretzel. Let’s be clear: this trip isn’t about Illinois families. It’s about getting a shining moment on CNN and Democrats holding onto their power.”
Republicans have been quick to criticize Illinois Governor JB Pritzker over Illinois’ current congressional map. On Monday, Pritzker reminded reporters that the current discussion is a response to President Trump’s demand that Republican governors redraw their maps to give Republicans an electoral advantage.
“This is, you know, all about the fact that Donald Trump is now trying to, well, rig the game by going state by state, and asking his friends, the Republican governors and Republican legislators, to do mid-decade redistricting,” Pritzker said. “So that’s something we’re all going to have to look at during the process here. But it doesn’t have to happen during the veto session. It could happen after that, but right now there’s just a lot of conversation going on.”
Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch released a statement Monday, saying:
“What the Republicans are continuing to do across the country is unprecedented and frankly wrong. We are watching our elections be manipulated in real time by Republicans desperate to defend an agenda that raises the prices of everything, forces people to live in fear, and threatens our entire Republic.
“I appreciate Leader Jeffries’ commitment to stand up against this tyranny. I agree with the Leader, all options must remain on the table to protect our democracy.”
In the meantime, in neighboring Indiana, Republican Governor Mike Braun has called a special session of the legislature to convene on Monday, Nov. 3. In a statement, Braun said, “I am calling a special legislative session to protect Hoosiers from efforts in other states that seek to diminish their voice in Washington and ensure their representation in Congress is fair.”
In addition to Illinois and Indiana, similar efforts are underway in Virginia, Ohio, and New York.
