Hispanic Districts Potentially Poised for Growth in Remap
A map of the 4th Congressional District, represented by Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago). Numerous Hispanic-majority legislative districts, and maybe even an additional Congressional district, could be drawn in redistricting. (Photo credit: WTTW)
If there’s something growing about the Illinois population, it’s the share of Illinois’ Hispanic residents.
Following the 2010 census, 15.8% of the state’s population was designated as Hispanic. That share has grown to 17.5% in 2019 census estimates. The share may be even larger when final census data comes out.
17.5% of the 118 seats in the Illinois House would make for around 21 Hispanic or Latino Representatives. Currently, there are about 11. About 6 of 59 State Senators are of Hispanic descent. 17.5% of Senate seats would be around 10 seats.
Is that the recipe for more Hispanic-specific districts in a new legislative map?
Steven Monroy of the Mexican American Legal Defense & Education Fund, based in Chicago, has been lobbying for more Hispanic representation.
Speaking to a House redistricting committee Monday, Monroy said the new maps need to protect and expand majority-Hispanic districts.
“We urge this committee to protect existing Latino majority and plurality districts and, where there are sufficient increases in Latino populations, to then create new Latino majority districts. We expect the 2020 census results will show an increase in Latino population statewide, but in particular, in the Chicagoland area.”
Monroy says only two majority Hispanic House districts are located outside of the city of Chicago, south of O’Hare International Airport, represented by Rep. Kathleen Willis (D-Addison) and an Aurora-based district, represented by Rep. Barbara Hernandez (D-Aurora).
Monroy says two districts, around Elgin and Waukegan, were close to being majority Latino in the 2010 census, and the population has only grown since then.
Republicans say there likely should be more Hispanic representation, but Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield), the top GOP member on the House Redistricting Committee says if Democrats use American Community Survey data instead of census data, they are more likely to under-represent Hispanic voters.
“If the Democrats use [ACS] data, [they] will undercount the Latinx population. I’ve made that point in hearings and they seem to not be paying attention to it,” Butler said. “There’s a growing Latinx population in the state, out into the suburbs, into Kane County and DuPage County and these areas, yet the maps don’t reflect that. I doubt the maps will reflect that if what they pass at the end of June [continues with this data].”
Butler also argues the state should likely have a second majority-Hispanic congressional district. Currently, Illinois’ 4th Congressional district, represented by Congressman Jesus “Chuy” Garcia (D-Chicago), is the only district represented by a person of Hispanic descent. The 4th has often been criticized by many as “gerrymandered” to put as many Hispanic voters into it as possible.
Monroy says one estimate, from the Latino Policy Forum, says there should be around 20 specific Hispanic House districts.
Both the House Redistricting Committee, chaired by Rep. Lisa Hernandez (D-Cicero) and the Senate Redistricting Committee, chaired by Sen. Omar Aquino (D-Chicago), are led by Hispanic members. In a process that, for so long, has been dominated by legislative leaders, it leaves an open-ended question how much Illinois’ Hispanic population will gain, or lose, in redistricting.
