Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.), and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL.), listen as the House select committee tasked with investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. Kinzinger who’s been outspoken against the former President announced he would not seek reelection in 2022, but insisted this was not the end of his political future.

Illinois Dems release new Congressional map proposal

Party expected to pass proposed map as early as next week

By Wes Sanderson

October 22, 2021

What to know

2020 U.S. Census results saw the state of Illinois decrease by 18,124 persons
The decline in the population dropped the state congressional delegation from 18 members to 17 starting in the 2022 primaries.
Democrats in Springfield drew the maps to yield a 14-3 split in favor of Democrats
Republican Adam Kinzinger (R-16) district combined with three Democrat-leaning districts

DeKALB— After months of speculations, Illinois Democrats released a new proposed U.S. House district map that would take effect for the 2022 midterm primary elections in June.

Democrats, who hold supermajorities in both chambers of the legislature in Springfield, released the proposed maps on Oct. 15 for the public to view and comment on before going to a full chamber vote.

The maps consist of 17 oddly shaped districts, similar in population size, but different from the 2011 approved congressional map due to the results of the 2020 U.S. Census data. Illinois saw a population decrease of 18,124 persons since the 2010 census was released, according to census.gov.

The population decline cut the Illinois House delegation from its current 18 congressional seats to the proposed 17, meaning some members of Congress might have to campaign to represent a different district.

Among those who could face a general election battle is GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-16), whose current district has now overlapped with Rep. Marie Newman (D-3), Bill Foster (D-11) and Lauren Underwood (D-14), meaning the outspoken Republican would have to find a new way to return to Washington in the upcoming midterm elections.

The new proposed map would yield a projected 14 Democratic and three Republican-held districts. Currently, the Illinois delegation is made up of 13 Democrats and five Republicans.

The proposed maps have not gone without criticism. Illinois GOP Chairman Don Tracy railed against the process, calling it partisan and disenfranchising.

“Illinois Democrats, led by Gov. J.B. Pritzker, have made it clear that they are willing to disenfranchise Illinois Voters,” Tracy said in a statement.

The general assembly is expected to pass the proposed maps as early as next week, according to the Associated Press.

The Northern Star will update this story when new information becomes available.