Peoria Standard

House Republicans in Illinois have initiated legal action against what they describe as extreme partisan gerrymandering. House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, joined by State Representatives Ryan Spain and Dan Ugaste, announced the lawsuit at a press conference held at the State Capitol. The litigation seeks to have the Illinois Supreme Court declare the current legislative map unconstitutional and appoint a special master to create a new redistricting plan.

McCombie emphasized the political implications of the existing maps, stating: "Illinois’ State House District Maps are the byproduct of extreme partisan gerrymandering. They are drawn by the political party in control and intended to entrench the Democratic Party in power." The challenge specifically targets issues related to district compactness and partisan bias as outlined in Articles IV and III of the state constitution.

Representative Spain has introduced House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 05, aimed at establishing a Fair Map Amendment. He criticized Speaker Chris Welch's leadership, saying: “Instead of a promised New Day by Speaker Chris Welch, we have instead seen Democrats opposing democracy through a multitude of efforts."

The history of efforts to combat gerrymandering in Illinois includes a failed 2016 initiative supported by over 600,000 residents for fair redistricting. This measure was dismissed by the Democrat-controlled Illinois Supreme Court following a lawsuit from John Hooker, who was later convicted on charges linked to bribery involving former Speaker Michael Madigan.

Representative Ugaste highlighted recent election outcomes that he argues illustrate successful partisan manipulation: “Of the 2024 Illinois House elections, Democratic candidates won 55% of the statewide vote but secured 66.1% of seats.” Ugaste also advocated for broader ethics reforms and increased voter influence.

Dr. Jowei Chen from the University of Michigan contributed expert research on gerrymandering for this case. According to Ugaste: "Voters across our state deserve to be heard, and we will not stand for them to be silenced any longer."

In related news, closing arguments were made this week in Michael Madigan's corruption trial. The jury is now deliberating after hearing extensive evidence over fourteen weeks concerning allegations against Madigan and his associate Michael McClain.

Additionally, recent education assessments show Illinois students performing above national averages in math and reading according to data from standardized tests administered in 2024.