On the campaign trail, Gov. J.B. Pritzker made a simple vow to the citizens of the Prairie State when he promised to veto any partisan redistricting plan from the state legislature.
That was Pritzker the candidate. Pritzker the governor has wasted little time in breaking his word to Illinoisans: Recently, he signed into law a hyperpartisan power grab of a bill which aims to solidify liberal control over Illinois by redrawing districts to the Democrat Party’s advantage.
It’s bad enough that Pritzker is shamelessly breaking a clear-cut promise to the people who elected him. Even worse, his decision is predicated on questionable preliminary data that’s likely inaccurate. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. census has been delayed. Instead of waiting out that delay in order to redraw districts based on solid data, Pritzker and Illinois Democrats opted to use population estimates from something called the American Community Survey.
There is virtually no chance that these numbers will be as accurate as the intensive, house-by-house census results expected later this year. Not only is Pritzker breaking a promise to his constituents for partisan gain, but he’s doing so with shoddy numbers, creating doubt that Illinoisans will be accurately represented in the Democrats’ partisan redistricting effort. Legal challenges to this legislation have already ensued on this very basis.
It all begs the question: why? Why rush to pass legislation with such direct consequences on the state’s administrative capacity? Why not ensure that the best possible data is available prior to passing such legislation? The answer is maddeningly simple. Pritzker and his fellow Democrats see a political opportunity to increase their power.
By codifying this redistricting plan, Pritzker is effectively tipping the scales in his own party’s favor. This fits a disappointing trend from Democrats nationwide. Democrats understand that their party’s rapid, jaw-dropping rush to the far left has left them disconnected from the average American voter.
Defunding the police, taxpayer-funded abortion, open antisemitism from certain House members — these are squarely outside of the American mainstream. So, instead of trying to win elections fair and square, Democrats make backroom deals to change the rules.
This is the same animating principle behind their nationwide campaign to undermine commonsense, popular election integrity measures like voter ID requirements.
Consider one tangible effect of the legislation which Pritzker recently signed. The new map is specifically tailored to ensure at least seven one-on-one matchups between current Illinois House Republican incumbents. In other words, Illinois Democrats are changing the rules to pit Republicans against each other because they know that offering up their own candidates would result in certain failure.
That’s not how the process is supposed to work. Ideally, opposing candidates offer up competing views, and informed voters decide based on policy who might best represent their interests. Pritzker and Democrats — in Illinois and nationwide — will do anything to avoid such an honest process and debate.
Instead, they cheat. Illinoisans deserve better.
– Ronna McDaniel is the Republican National Committee chairwoman.
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