After saying repeatedly during his campaign in 2018 that he would veto any partisan redistricting map drawn by the Illinois General Assembly in favor of an independent commission, Governor J.B. Pritzker has walked back part of that promise in recent days.
The Governor told reporters last week that he would instead receive a map drawn by the legislature and would look at it for its fairness. He had said three years ago that he would pledge to veto any partisan map, and urged the General Assembly to create an independent commission.
State Representative Mike Marron is among those concerned about Pritzker’s recent statements.
“I think it’s disturbing that the Governor campaigned on the fact that he would veto any partisanly (sic) drawn map, and it looks like he’s caving to pressure,” he says.
Illinois will be losing one seat in the U.S House of Representatives based on preliminary data released by the Census Bureau last month. Democrats have full control of the General Assembly, which has worried some downstate representatives, most of whom are Republican, about their constituents losing their voice in government.
