Prairie State Wire

The Illinois House Republicans have raised concerns over Governor JB Pritzker's actions regarding legislative maps. They announced on the social media platform X that while Pritzker had claimed to support fair maps, he signed what they describe as some of the most partisan gerrymandered maps in the country.

According to Representative Patrick Windhorst from the Illinois GOP, Governor Pritzker signed legislative maps in 2022 that he had previously opposed during his campaign. This has led to accusations of a political "flip-flop." The caucus highlighted that although Pritzker promised support for fair, independent redistricting, he ultimately approved maps they say are highly partisan and reduce competition. This reversal has become a central issue for Illinois House Republicans as they question the governor’s credibility.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Illinois’s 2021 congressional map received poor grades from the nonpartisan Princeton Gerrymandering Project for both partisan fairness and geographic compactness. Despite former President Trump securing approximately 44% of the vote in Illinois in 2024, Democrats currently hold 14 of the state’s 17 U.S. House seats. This suggests a significant disparity between voter preferences and electoral outcomes. Republicans use these statistics to argue that the map rigging is among the most partisan in the nation.

The Associated Press notes that House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, other Republicans, and five Illinois voters filed a lawsuit with the Illinois Supreme Court in January 2025 challenging the constitutionality of the legislative district map. They contend that under the state’s "free and equal elections" clause, the map’s irregular district shapes are intentionally designed to entrench Democratic power and weaken GOP voting strength. Republicans also propose appointing a neutral special master to redraw the map and creating an independent redistricting commission to prevent future partisan manipulation.

The Illinois House Republicans serve as the official Republican caucus in the state's lower legislative chamber, representing GOP lawmakers. Their mission statement emphasizes their role as "the voice in Springfield for families, farmers, workers, students, seniors, veterans and all who call Illinois home," focusing on economic growth, public safety, government transparency, and electoral fairness. The caucus positions itself as a counterbalance against one-party dominance and an advocate for accountability in state governance.