Illinois Governor Pritzker Signals Potential for Mid-decade Redistricting in Response to Texas Map
SPRINGFIELD,IL – Illinois Governor JB Pritzker indicated Wednesday he is open to redrawing the state’s congressional districts should Texas Republicans move forward with a plan to create a new map designed to bolster their party’s portrayal in the U.S. House. The potential move comes as Texas Democrats fled the state Sunday to block a special legislative session focused on both flood recovery and the proposed redistricting plan.
The Texas legislature, urged by former President Donald Trump, is considering a map that could grant Republicans an additional five seats in Congress. Currently, the House is held by a narrow Republican majority of 219-212, with four vacancies. Expanding their Texas delegation could be crucial for Republicans in maintaining control after the 2026 midterm elections.
However, the prospect of mid-decade redistricting – altering district maps outside of the regular census cycle – has drawn criticism from Democratic leaders in states like Illinois and California, who have threatened retaliatory action.
While acknowledging the difficulty of enacting a new map in Illinois given the imminent start of petitioning for the 2026 elections on August 5th, and the fact that Democrats already hold 14 of the state’s 17 congressional districts, Governor Pritzker did not dismiss the possibility. “It’s never too late,” he told reporters at the illinois State Fairgrounds.
Pritzker also reiterated his support for the Texas Democrats, stating they are “welcome in the state of Illinois,” a sentiment he has expressed for the past six weeks.
Illinois lawmakers are scheduled to return to session on October 14th, but Pritzker stated he has not yet engaged in detailed discussions with legislative leaders regarding a mid-decade redistricting plan. he emphasized that welcoming the Texas Democrats to Illinois was already a significant step.
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