From State Rep. Dan Ugaste:
House Republicans Blast Pritzker’s Fake Outrage Over Gerrymandering
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker once again waded into national politics this week when he discussed a possible mid-decade redistricting of congressional maps to counteract Texas and other Republican states.
Gov. Pritzker stated: “We have to see what they decide to do about Texas… I think we ought to play by the rules,” but acknowledged “counterbalance” might be necessary.
“I think cheating the way the president wants to is improper.
“We all ought to stand up against it.
“People ought to be outraged.” In response to Governor JB Pritzker’s comments today regarding potential mid-decade redistricting of congressional maps to counteract Texas and other Republican states, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie released the following statement:
“It’s rich that the Governor now claims to support playing by the rules—after he enthusiastically signed into law the most gerrymandered maps in the nation.
When it was convenient, he promised to reject partisan maps in favor of fair representation. Illinois Republicans remain committed to fairness and transparency.”
Deputy Illinois House Minority Leader Ryan Spain released the following statement in response to the Governor’s comments: “Nothing is more phony than disingenuous and hypocritical outrage from a grandstanding Governor who signed some of the worst partisanly gerrymandered legislative maps in the country,” said Spain.
“I disagree with efforts in other states to double down on further partisan gerrymandering, but I can make that statement because I voted against partisan gerrymandering in Illinois and have been dedicated to its elimination for many years.
“Let’s not forget, JB Pritzker campaigned against partisan gerrymandering and then betrayed his word as soon as it became politically useful to him. The nonpartisan Princeton Gerrymandering Project gave Illinois’ congressional districts a failing ‘F’ grade.
“The fact is, Democrats’ supermajorities in the Illinois General Assembly and their grip on our congressional delegation only exist because of this extreme partisan gerrymandering. Spare us the fake outrage, Governor.”
Spain also noted that multiple non-partisan organizations across the country have recognized Illinois as having some of the worst gerrymandering in the country.
This fact was on full display in recent elections.
| I In the 2024 Illinois House elections, Democratic candidates won 55% of the statewide vote, but Democratic candidates won a supermajority of seats (78 of 118, or 66.1%). In 2022, election results were even more lopsided, with Illinois House Republican candidates winning a majority of the statewide vote, but Democrats still secured a supermajority nonetheless. Rep. Ugaste issued the following statement: “So now the Governor wants to follow the rules? “This is laughable. Illinois’ political maps, both for Congress and the State Legislature, are already so overly gerrymandered that it has silenced the voices of millions of voters. “And the Governor signed the state legislative maps into law just a few short years ago. “The Governor also said today we ought to stand up against cheating and be outraged. “Well, where have you been, Governor? “Under the Illinois Constitution, legislative districts must be ‘compact, contiguous, and substantially equal in population.’ “But a non-partisan expert witness found 52 of the 118 current House districts not meeting those requirements. “In other words, those districts as drawn are unconstitutional. The Governor’s selective outrage in this manner is ridiculous.” |
