(The Center Square) – While Gov. J.B. Pritzker jokes on national TV that Illinois’ congressional maps were drawn by kindergartners, a statehouse Republican says the maps are gerrymandered at an “expert level.”
After rallying Tuesday with Texas Democrats who fled to Illinois to prevent a vote on Republicans Congressional redistricting measure, Pritzker traveled to New York City to be on CBS with Stephen Colbert. Colbert held up Illinois’ maps and poked fun at how contorted the districts are.
“We handed it over to a kindergarten class and let them decide,” Pritzker said.
“OK. And … that’s the nonpartisan group that does this?” Colbert asked.
“That’s our independent commission,” Pritzker said.
Illinois state Rep. Ryan Spain, R-Peoria, said the truth is Democrats gerrymandered the map at an “expert level” and can’t be gerrymandered anymore.
“I fully disagree with what they’re doing in Texas. I think it’s wrong,” Spain told The Center Square about Texas Republicans efforts to draw new Congressional maps in order to win more seats next year. “But if they do it, their map still will not be as lopsided as the current map that has been in place for the state of Illinois. For our congressional districts.”
Democratic leaders have said “everything is on the table,” including redistricting Democratic controlled states, to counter Texas Republicans.
Tuesday, Pritzker said his heroes are Texas Democrats who fled the state to block a vote on redistricting The Lone Star State.
“Texas House Democrats are leading the way in choosing courage and country over politics and party. That’s what it means to fight for what’s right,” Pritzker said. “And I love this country too. And I love it so much that I’m going to fight for it, too, right alongside my heroes, the Texas House Democrats.”
Spain filed House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 19 this week to require a two-thirds majority for a quorum like Texas, instead of a simple majority as Illinois has now.
“If the governor is so happy with what’s taking place in Texas and, helping those legislators, I hope he would support having the same quorum requirements in the Illinois General Assembly,” Spain said.
Unveiling the butter cow ahead of the 2025 Illinois State Fair Wednesday, Pritzker said he didn’t have an opinion on the proposed change.
“I think the House will make a determination about what they want, put that out, as you said there’s a bill, I haven’t looked at it,” Pritzker said. “I don’t have an opinion about that today.”
The leading Texas legislator who came to Illinois, Gene Wu, must respond to the Texas Supreme Court Friday to a motion from Texas Gov. Greg Abbot that Wu be removed from office.
