Tony M. McCombie, Illinois State Representative from the 89th District | www.ilga.gov
Tony M. McCombie, Illinois State Representative from the 89th District | www.ilga.gov
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker has come under criticism for his handling of the state’s redistricting process, with opponents accusing him of failing to keep promises about independent mapmaking. The issue gained renewed attention this week after Texas Democrats left their state to block a redistricting vote, and Pritzker commented on national television that they should come to Illinois if they wanted to stop gerrymandering.
Critics argue that Illinois has become an example of partisan map drawing under Democratic leadership. "If there were a masterclass in how to rig a map, Illinois would be the lab and Pritzker the tenured professor. Under his watch, Democrats drew one of the most shamelessly gerrymandered maps in America dividing communities and silencing voters," one statement read.
During his campaign for governor, Pritzker pledged support for an independent redistricting commission and said he would only sign maps created by such a body. Opponents say he did not fulfill this promise. "That promise, like many others, was tossed aside the moment it became politically inconvenient," according to critics.
Instead, Pritzker signed maps drawn by Democratic lawmakers behind closed doors. These maps received an “F” grade from Princeton University’s Gerrymandering Project.
The controversy also references former President Barack Obama’s 2016 address to the Illinois General Assembly, where he called for both parties to end gerrymandering and warned it threatened public trust.
Critics further claim that competitive districts have disappeared in Illinois as communities are divided for party advantage. "Let’s be clear: Republicans don’t oppose redistricting; we oppose rigging the system. Illinoisans deserve a fair, transparent process where voters choose their politicians not the other way around."
They call on Governor Pritzker to back an independent commission for future redistricting efforts: "If Governor Pritzker truly believes in defending democracy, he should prove it. Start with an independent redistricting commission. Until then, any lecture he gives on 'reform' is just political theater, well-scripted, but still fiction."
Tony McCombie is among those voicing concern over the current process; she was elected as a Republican representative for Illinois’ 89th House District in 2023 after replacing Andrew Chesney.
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