Illinois Group Launches New Effort to End Gerrymandering
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A fresh attempt to overhaul Illinois’ legislative redistricting process is underway, spearheaded by prominent figures from both major political parties. The initiative, dubbed Fair Maps Illinois, aims to establish a ballot initiative in 2026 to reform how state legislative maps are drawn, addressing concerns about partisan gerrymandering.
Bipartisan Leadership
former U.S. Commerce Secretary Bill Daley, a Democrat, and ex-Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican, are co-chairing the effort. They announced the launch at a news conference held at the Union League Club in downtown Chicago on Tuesday. Their collaboration signals a rare bipartisan approach to a deeply divisive issue.
“We’re kicking off an effort to try to change the Constitution so we can have a legislature in Springfield that is more reflective and more balanced in its approach to issues,” Daley stated. LaHood echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the importance of bipartisanship in effective governance. “The idea of bipartisanship is the way that states and the country have solved its problems…we need to get back to that.”
LaHood,who represented Illinois’ 18th congressional district from 1995 to 2008 and later served as transportation secretary under President Barack Obama,highlighted the need for elected officials who embrace collaboration.
Daley pointed to a lack of competitive elections, noting that nearly 50% of current legislative districts have no general election competition. “That means all you worry about is the primary,” he explained. ”We talk Rs and Ds, and we are proud Republicans and proud Democrats. The majority of people self-identify as independent, and party importance is shrinking by the day.”
A History of Redistricting Challenges
This marks the third attempt in eleven years to reform Illinois’ legislative map-making process. Previous efforts in 2014 and 2016 were blocked by the courts. This latest bid comes amidst a national debate over redistricting, with Republicans in Texas pursuing a midterm redistricting push and Democrats in California considering a remap to create more Democratic seats.
The national trend towards partisan map-drawing is fueling confusion, according to LaHood. “I think it’s far too partisan, and I think the people will decide that they don’t like any of this.” Daley was more critical, describing the actions in Texas as “a disservice to the nation.” He added, “This is like the extreme craziness.”
Did You Know? Gerrymandering, the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor one party or group, has been a contentious issue in American politics since the early 19th century, named after Massachusetts Governor Elbridge Gerry? Learn more about the history of gerrymandering.
Legal Strategy and optimism
Michael Dorf, former general counsel for the Illinois Democratic Party, is serving as general counsel for Fair Maps Illinois.He expressed confidence that this effort will succeed where previous ones failed. “We’ve worked really hard to follow the guidelines that the Illinois Supreme Court has set for getting this type of an amendment passed,” Dorf said. “We’ve looked and seen what they’ve said we can do, and we think we have threaded the needle to get an amendment which we’ll be able to get on the ballot.”
Dorf believes the national redistricting battles may actually benefit their cause. “What I think it does is bring gerrymandering to the attention of a lot of people who otherwise might not have been interested in it,” he explained. “Everybody has read or heard something now about gerrymandering, and we’re saying we’re trying to fix it in Illinois.”
| Year | Redistricting Attempt | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Constitutional Amendment Attempt | Struck down by courts |
| 2016 | Constitutional Amendment Attempt | Struck down by courts |
| 2025/2026 | Fair Maps Illinois Initiative | Pending ballot initiative |
Pro tip: Understanding the nuances of redistricting requires familiarity with concepts like compactness, contiguity, and minority vote dilution. The brennan Center for Justice offers thorough resources on these topics.
What role should independent commissions play in drawing electoral maps? Do you believe partisan considerations should be removed from the redistricting process entirely?
the ongoing Battle Over Fair portrayal
The fight against gerrymandering is part of a larger, ongoing struggle for fair representation in American democracy. The Brennan Center for Justice has been at the forefront of this battle, advocating for independent redistricting commissions and challenging partisan map-drawing in courts across the country. The Supreme Court’s rulings on redistricting have been complex and frequently enough divided, leaving the issue largely to state-level action. The increasing sophistication of data analytics and mapping technology has also played a role, allowing mapmakers to create increasingly precise and effective gerrymanders. This makes the push for independent, non-partisan commissions even more critical.
Frequently Asked Questions About Gerrymandering in Illinois
- What is gerrymandering? Gerrymandering is the practice of drawing electoral district boundaries to favor a particular political party or group.
- why is gerrymandering a problem? It can lead to uncompetitive elections, reduce voter choice, and undermine the principles of representative democracy.
- What is Fair Maps Illinois proposing? Fair Maps Illinois is seeking a constitutional amendment to establish an independent commission to draw legislative maps.
- Has Illinois tried to reform redistricting before? Yes, previous attempts in 2014 and 2016 were unsuccessful due to court challenges.
- What is the current status of the Fair Maps Illinois initiative? The initiative is in its early stages, with plans to pursue a ballot initiative in 2026.
Michael Puente is a reporter and weekend anchor at WBEZ.
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