Pritzker Appears to Flip-Flop on Redistricting Promise
Governor JB Pritzker appeared to go back on a 2018 campaign promise to veto any partisan redistricting map Tuesday, all but ensuring Democrats would be able to redraw legislative maps without accurate census data.
Governor JB Pritzker said in 2018 he would veto any legislative redistricting map drawn by politicians. Tuesday, it appeared Pritzker went back on that pledge.
“As I’ve said, I will veto an unfair map. I’ve also said that in order for us to have an independent commission, we needed to have a constitutional amendment, something that would actually change the way the process operates today in the constitution,” Pritzker said at an unrelated news conference in Springfield. “That did not happen. So, now, as we reach the end of this session and I look to the legislature for their proposal for a redistricting map, I’ll be looking to it for its fairness. That’s something that’s vitally important for our state, has an effect on the next ten years and representation throughout the state.”
Much has been made, especially by Republicans, of Pritzker’s comment to Capitol Fax that he would veto a partisan redistricting plan.
Q: Will you pledge as governor to veto any state legislative redistricting map proposal that is in any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies?
Pritzker: Yes, I will pledge to veto. We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps, but in the meantime, I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map. That designated body should reflect the gender, racial, and geographic diversity of the state and look to preserve the Voting Rights Act decisions to ensure racial and language minorities are fully represented in the electoral process.
Republicans were quick to pounce on Pritzker’s apparent flip-flop.
“The Governor seems to suffer from retrograde amnesia on this important topic,” said House Republican Leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs.) “The Governor needs to lead and ensure that an independent body draw the maps as he promised.”
But Pritzker tried to blame Republicans for attempting to hold up the process.
“I do believe that Democrats and Republicans should get together to adopt this map. I hope that Republicans will choose to work with Democrats on the map.,” he said. “Right now, it looks like they’re just saying no, they’re not really engaging, all they’re doing is fighting in these redistricting hearings that, I think, have been so important for hearing what people across the state really want in a redistricting map.”
But, Rep. Tim Butler (R-Springfield), the top Republican on the House Redistricting Committee, says Republcians have been engaged in the process, while Democrats have cut them out.
“Republicans have asked the Governor to testify at a hearing, which he has refused,” Butler said. “Republicans have introduced legislation that would give us a citizen commission this year, which he has refused to support. Republicans are in agreement with so many advocates who have testified at hearings against using [American Community Survey estimate] data, and now the Governor seems to think Illinois should draw maps for the first time not using the decennial census data we need to draw maps correctly.”
Meanwhile, Pritzker defended the current map, drawn completely by Democrats in 2011 as fair. It was the 2011 map that led a bipartisan group to arrange for a constitutional amendment for redistricting reform, that was rejected by the Democrat-led Supreme Court.
“I would say that the map that was put together for the last ten years started out with a very strong leaning toward fairness, which was the Supreme Court rulings of the past dictated the drawing of minority districts in the state, to start with that map and you have to draw from there,” Pritzker said. “There are parts of the state that are overwhelmingly one party or another party and it’s very difficult to draw competitive districts in those areas. But, I do believe that, once you put these Supreme Court rulings on to the map face, then you can begin to put this fair map, and something that is inclusive of all of our diversity across the state, into that map. “
Butler says Pritzker needs to stop changing his tune and keep his promises..
“The Governor needs to stand by his word,” Butler said. “His office said he would veto a partisanly drawn map. His campaign promise was to lead the charge on a citizen-led commission. Two years as Governor seems to have changed his promise to the people of Illinois.”
Of course, without the Governor’s potential veto, it all but assures Democrats can draw whatever legislative map they prefer before the end of the spring session in May. Sources tell The Illinoize Republicans are planning a court challenge, But Democrats are confident a partisan map, even without being based on census data, will be upheld by the courts.