UPDATED: Democrat-drawn Congressional Map Targets Kinzinger, Davis, Miller, Larger Dem Majority
Congressman Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) was drawn out of his district in a new congressional map released by statehouse Democrats Friday. If Kinzinger runs for re-election in 2022, he would likely face Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-LaGrange) in the new 3rd District.
In an effort to strengthen Illinois’ Democratic congressional majority from 13-5 to 14-3, Democrats released a new gerrymandered congressional map Friday afternoon.
The map, available here, specifically impacts incumbent Republicans Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, Rodney Davis of Taylorville, Mary Miller of Oakland, and Darin LaHood of Peoria.
Kinzinger, whose heavily Republican 16th district is dismantled in the new map, is drawn into a district with progressive Democrat Congresswoman Marie Newman (D-LaGrange) in a district that runs from Midway Airport west to Ottawa and LaSalle. Kinzinger has openly mulled a run for U.S. Senate in 2022 and indicated in a statement Friday a statewide race may be more likely.
“Following the release of the new congressional maps for Illinois, my team and I will spend some time looking them over and reviewing all of the options, including those outside the House,” he said.
National redistricting expert Dave Wasserman says the new 3rd District was won by President Joe Biden by 6 points last year.
A Republican source tells The Illinoize Kinzinger could potentially challenge Newman next year. She is perceived as the weakest of suburban Democrats and may turn off moderate and independent voters with her progressive voting record while Kinzinger could attract some with his outspoken comments in opposition to former President Donald Trump.
Meanwhile, Congressman Darin LaHood (R-Peoria) and Congresswoman Mary Miller (R-Oakland) have been drawn into a potential primary in the new 16th district, which runs from the southern edge of the Quad Cities to Quincy east to rural areas around Champaign and south to Miller’s home north of Charleston. It is expected to be heavily Republican.
Democrats also appear to have made life difficult for Congressman Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville), who was drawn out of his current 13th District and into the new 15th District. The new district includes Vandalia and Effingham to the south, north to Danville and along the Indiana border and cuts to northwest Illinois, including Kewanee, Sterling, Dixon, and Freeport. Vandalia to Freeport by car is around 275 miles.
UPDATE (1:57 P.M.):
Davis, who is said to be considering a run for Governor, attacked the Governor and legislative Democrats.
“This proposed map, along with this entire redistricting process, is a complete joke, Davis said in a statement. “It’s clear Governor Pritzker and the Democrats will stoop to any low if it means they can keep their corrupt system going.”
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In an effort to secure the 17th District for Democrats in an open seat being vacated by Congresswoman Cheri Bustos, Democrats added more of Rockford and Peoria to the Quad Cities based district. It also snakes to include central portions of Bloomington and Normal. Sen. Steve Stadelman (D-Rockford) and Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford) are both said to be considering a race. Wasserman says Biden won the new 17th by 6 points.
Democrats also attempted to strengthen the 13th District, which Davis has held for the past decade. The new map reduces rural areas of the district and adds Democratic portions of St. Clair County, like Belleville and East St. Louis, to make the district more Democratic. The new district includes nearly all of Springfield, the northern portion of Decatur, and all of Champaign-Urbana. Wasserman says Biden won the district by 11 points last year. Former Pritzker and Biden administration official Nikki Budzinski has announced for the seat and is seen as the favorite.
Wasserman called the map "a bit more adventurous of a gerrymander than expected."
Republicans, of course, were angry at the new map.
House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) called it an insult.
“In another insult to Illinois voters, Democrats drew more partisan maps to benefit their incumbent politicians and protect Nancy Pelosi’s failing majority,” Durkin said in a statement.
Illinois Republican Party Chairman Don Tracy says the map “disenfranchises” Illinois voters.
“It’s appalling that fair representation, keeping communities of interest together, and transparency in the mapmaking process in Illinois all had to take a back seat to the demands of national politics,” he said.
Senate Redistricting Committee Vice Chair Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) voiced his support for the map.
“This proposed map is an effort to ensure every community across our state receives fair and equal representation in Washington,”
Legal challenges on the map are likely, though political gerrymandering cases are almost never upheld. Democrats chose not to include a second Latino-majority district in the plan, which some have argued is warranted as Hispanics are now the second largest ethic group in the state. It’s unclear if the Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF), which has sued over the state legislative maps, will pursue action on the congressional map.
Legislators will likely approve the maps during veto session next week, though, it is possible Democrats could make changes. In a statement, House Redistricting Committee Chair Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero), called the map a “first draft.”