Illinois Redraws Electoral Map To Suit Democrats
- Posted on July 5, 2011 at 9:57pm by
Tiffany Gabbay
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ST. ANNE, Ill. (AP) — Surrounded by fields that grow corn, soybeans, melons and potatoes, this tiny rural village is 65 miles from Chicago but light years away from the big city. Still, St. Anne and a lot of the farm country around it has now been dragged into the metropolis as part of an ambitious political strategy focused on the 2012 national elections.
A new census-based political map drawn by the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature, and signed into law by Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn, has taken swaths of suburban and rural Illinois and added them to the districts of veteran Chicago Democrats such as U.S. Rep. Jackson Jr., who could be St. Anne’s next representative.
The move was one of the boldest by the national political parties this year as they sought to benefit by changing political boundaries.
The new map should help Democrats and hurt Republicans in Illinois in 2012, and boost the Democrats’ hopes for retaking control of the U.S. House. But it’s creating an awkward situation for some of the people who live in these rural areas, who could soon find themselves represented by officials who live in a very different universe.
“He’s a long way from home, isn’t he?” said Scott Rigsby, a former warehouse worker who lives in the village of some 1,300 people, referring to Jackson‘s political base on Chicago’s industrial South Side. For a hamlet that goes by the motto of “preserving a rural life,” Rigsby said, “We’re way too far away for him to have his own personal finger on this town.”
The political maneuvering began this year when legislatures and governors began redrawing political districts with the new census data as required by law. Because Republicans won major gains in the midterm elections last fall, they had the upper hand in most states, and have been aggressively massaging boundaries to their advantage.
But in Illinois, where Democrats control all branches of state government, the party had its prime opportunity. If the new map survives an expected GOP court challenge, Democrats could knock off as many as five GOP House members who now find themselves in districts with many more Democratic voters or much tougher competition.
Jackson and four other Democratic congressmen would have districts that stretch like tentacles from Chicago to take in — and politically neutralize — suburban and rural areas that recently have sent Republicans to Congress.
The effort is an important part of the Democratic Party’s national strategy. “Illinois and particularly the suburbs of Chicago have always been a center of gravity in our path to retake the House majority, because those districts have been competitive and will remain competitive,” Rep. Steve Israel of New York, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, told reporters in Washington at a breakfast hosted by The Christian Science Monitor. Republicans now hold a 48-seat advantage in the House.
The new map places four freshman Republicans and one veteran GOP lawmaker in districts where they would have to run against other incumbents in 2012. Jackson’s expanded territory would take away parts of the current district of U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of the GOP freshmen whose victories in 2010 bolstered the tea party coalition in Washington. The new Jackson district even includes Kinzinger’s hometown of Manteno in Kankakee County.
Karl Kruse, a farmer and the GOP county chairman, is not optimistic about Kinzinger’s prospects. “Reality is that this district was drawn in a way that I don’t think Adam could win,” said Kruse.
For his part, Kinzinger will say only that he “will definitely be running again.” He wouldn‘t say whether he’ll move somewhere else to do it.
Elsewhere, the map would force freshman GOP Rep. Robert Dold to face veteran Chicago Democrat Jan Schakowsky, who won her race in 2010 with 66 percent of the vote. The reworked districts of other Chicago-area Democrats, including Reps. Daniel Lipinski and Mike Quigley, would now cut into Republican territory.
Democrats defend their new congressional map as fair, competitive and in line with the Voting Rights Act, which requires map drawers to protect the interests of minorities. They say the expanding Chicago districts are the inevitable result of the state losing one congressional seat, from 19 to 18, because of its slowing population growth.
Kankakee is Republican territory — the home of former Republican Gov. George Ryan, Kinzinger and many other elected officials over the years. Jackson isn’t exactly unknown here. The son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, he has served in Congress for 15 years. But he’s known for his role in Chicago-area issues, such as the push for a third airport there, and inner-city causes.
Jackson’s chief of staff, Rick Bryant, said the congressman is ready to serve a new crop of farm constituents. “We may have more in common than people believe,” Bryant said.
But Kruse, the county GOP chairman, said Kankakee County voters care a lot about agriculture, and that Jackson supported so-called “cap and trade” environmental legislation, which farmers didn’t like because it would have increased regulation and the cost of diesel fuel and fertilizer.
“For a legislator who has not had an agricultural community in his or her district before, it would be a challenge,” said Kankakee County Farm Bureau manager Chad Miller said. “But somebody as seasoned as Congressman Jackson is, I‘m sure he’s up for that challenge.”
At a dinky gas station in the village of Hopkins Park — population 837— 83-year-old John Bender said he’ll be interested to see what Jackson could do for the area if he wins the district in the 2012 election.
“Sometimes the further it is the better it is; sometimes the closer it is the worse it is,” said Bender, who says he switched to become a Republican eight years ago. “So, if he does his job, that’s as good as anybody else.”
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Comments (72)
calnaughtonjr
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:17amI am in Illinois’ 1st Congressional District and if you can find a better example of corruption and blatant gerrymandering I would love to see it – if only to know someone somewhere is getting screwed worse than me! I don’t know how Bobby Rush does it but wow! Take a look at the district map,
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/findyourreps.xpd?state=IL&district=1
Report Post »jessieH
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:15amWhy not just call the State, Chicagoville. It’s been the most corrupt in the Nation. I wonder how many dead people filled out the census, how many from another State? Everyone knows Chicago is corrupt, we’re just not shur how much.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:44amSo let the games begin. They are going to pull out all the stops in order to win in 2012. They already have the teachers union and this is just the beginning.
Report Post »Amazingoly
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:40amThe poor taxpayers in Illinois will be deeper in the debt quicksand if this ploy is carried out. Illinois has 19 people in Congress – 9 Democrats, 11 Republicans, however the 9 Democrats mostly live in and around Chicago and are responsible for the bankrupt state we are living in. 99 or 100 counties voted for Republican Bill Brady, but he lost due to the Democratic majority of voters in the North part of the state. Until the leadership is ever changed in Illinois, the state will continue to lose business and will sink further in the quicksand.
Report Post »betsp
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:22amHey, when you have such a safe and successful place as Chicago, wouldn’t it be wise to empower yourself to continue down that same road? So, bankrupt, crime-ridden, union and mafia controlled Chicago will perpetuate that glory for the next 10 years. I‘m glad I don’t live there.
Report Post »IndianaJan
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:17amThis story got my attention because of it’s truly huge “hidden agenda”.
Report Post »Jesse Jr. and the Crony Crowd are now rolling full steam on the third airport. It will gobble up countless acres of beautiful and rich farmland, and seals the deal on the ridiculous Illiana Expressway that will gobble up more rural land.
The Illiana will make the Bridge to Nowhere look like sliced bread.
The truth, in case anyone cares, is that the third airport is not needed, and the Illiana will be a sad blight that will do nothing but serve this folly.
OHare is being expanded, and re-vamping the Gary Airport makes much more sense.
Farmland has no meaning for these mopes. And the redistricting was unnecessary because Illinois is the Bluest of the Blue states. It’s all about the airport.
But the dye is cast, and the cost will be breathtaking.
mkozicki
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:17amI think there should be some sort of law or requirement that a district has as few sides as possible. Say 4 maximum in order to enclose the number of people that each district needs to have in order to have an equal population as others. Also it should be required that all 4 sides be as close to the same length as possible. Sides could be substituted for a river or the edge of a state or a lake that cuts the district along one side.
The party in power should not have the right to rip off people from the value of there vote just because they want to stay in power. The party out of power should also not be able to do this.
They don’t draw states and counties like these districts so why allow districts to be drawn like this.
Report Post »jayjayson
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:53amLooking at the map of the States, I notice that only four are square, which is what your idea would need to work. There is something called voter variance that works better in your idea. The VV is the amount of registered voters in a district. Say District 1 has 500,000 then district 2 would should have 500,000. Well the answer is no, District 2 could have as few as 400,000 or as many as 600,000 voters and only have a a VV of 10%, which is legal with the USDOJ. What the R’s have done in Georgia is try to have less then a 0.5% VV. Which means district to district there are only about 1,000 thousand difference.
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:39amHurrah for states rights!!
Report Post »Where are those outraged Illinois subjects er, citizens?
hoopojoop
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:30amIt’s a blatant effort to dilute voter strength based on race.
Where is the Justice Department?
/ crickets /
Report Post »constitutionaldirective
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:23amNOT TO WORRY.. the same thing is happening to the opposite affect in Georgia and MANY other states during this cycle.. Ill.. has been surrendered to the Serfs anyway!
the gains to be made in Red states will far exceed anything the leftists in Ill can do!… 8)
NOT a “Big F’n DEAL”!
Report Post »jayjayson
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:41amBring Georgia in to this is not fair. Yes after the R’s took control in 2002, they redrew the districts. But they did it because in 2000 the D’s geremandered the districts so bad. It dosen’t help that the USDJ has final say over it too.
Report Post »calnaughtonjr
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:41amI think it is a huge deal. The perversion of democracy, whether done by the right of the left, is what I object to. I am completely opposed to restructuring districts to achieve political ends even if I agree with the ideology of the people doing it.
Report Post »upstateny
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:11amThis is no different than what John Corrigan did for Obama in 2001. I know no one will bother to read it but here is the link to the entire story.
Report Post »http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lizza?printable=true
FedUpWithLeft
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:26amThis is why the Democraps are the Jackass party.
Report Post »curmudgeon60
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:10am“Chicago, Chicago that toddlin’ town—the town that Billy Sunday couldn’t shut down!” But someday…..the sheep on the RIGHT and the goats on the LEFT!!
Report Post »shelbyg513
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:06amNothing new here. In 1980′s I lived in Skokie. I noticed one year that the Republicans had out polled the Democrats by 500,000 votes but 5 more Democrats than Republicans were sent to congress. I am sure Texas will work on doing the same in the opposite direction, and maybe this year Wisconsin. The only problem is that for some southern states the USDOJ gets to decide on the maps.
Report Post »Living In NYC
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 5:35amNice work from from Barry’s Servants…what else do expect from Chicago Politics!
Report Post »JJ Coolay
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 5:45amThat’s total B.S.!! This is legalize voter fraud
Report Post »likwidlizard
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:11amThis is after Obama told the slumlords there that they would get no money if they didn‘t convince all the lil toads to vote for him or they wouldn’t be getting anymore of those $5 bills like he handed out at the last election.and he also told ACORN that their planned whore houses that are to go up when he‘s reelected will be history if he don’t win. No more $5 bills, no brothels, no food stamps, no gubment jobs, no BaBaKoos, no weekends at dey WhiteHouse, more get-outta-jail coupons. They can all burn in H*LL. They best be swindling, lieing, riggin votes, whatever it takes to get him reelected. The chosen one walks on water–even if it is in the gutters of South Chicago.
Report Post »Mary Just
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:54amThe Demonrat Partyy has ruined this country. They are sick people taking the last life out of our nation. Why else would they allow millions of illegals to enter our country annually or continue to go trillions more in debt.
Report Post »PoliticalSmackdown {Subscribe & Friend me on YouTube}
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:25amthe proper term is CHEATING!
Report Post »stogieguy7
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 10:02amThat is correct. IL ended up with a mental midget as governor who SOMEHOW won election by 20,000 votes over a conservative Republican – while winning only 3 of 102 counties! We all feel that Quinn stole the election thanks to electoral abuses in the City of Chicago. And they are using that same formula to steal away congressional seats too.
We sent 5 suburban Republicans to Congress and our congressional delegation is majority Republican now. These evil crooks can’t tolerate such a thing.
Report Post »peteto1
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:22amIt will be a hoot if the corrupt, Marxist-hijacked Democrat’s plan BACKFIRES and they LOSE all the seats that would have been a cinch to win! Funnier things have happened in politics, esp. when the voters feel they are being “played”……
Report Post »mbguy02
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:56amPart of ICLEI I think. How about the new Executive order signed regaurding Rural areas. Chicago thugs at their worst. Keep this in litigation for the next 2 years.
Report Post »Brad Wesselmann
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 3:22pmYou mean Executive Order #13575, the authorization of the American Central Committee? We are doomed if that is not fought to the full extent of our ability….because it will eventually ELIMINATE our ability to fight.
Report Post »Jake in Denver
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:49amThe conservatives in these districts need to get organized and mobilized. Get an overwhelming turnout at the ballots and get rid of the corrupt politicians.
Report Post »alaskajohn
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:47amRepubs. should have a net gain, they won control of many more states than the dems.
Report Post »saviorammo
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:31amSo freak‘n revolt and hang these mf’s from the lamp poles. They will do anything to end your way of life. They are cowards and Eric the Traitor can’t protect them for he is guilty as well.
Why can’t the Muslims attack Chicago?
Report Post »NeoMouser
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:27amwhat would be funny as all get out is if these new districts all voted republican
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 7:10amWe could only hope. Certainly the dems have done nothing to help the state but with the help of the ‘thugocracy’ I’m sure they will continue to vote for the losers.
Report Post »ConsiderThis
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:11amFigures!
Report Post »fastfacts
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 2:49amWe worried about this during the election. That is why it was such a hard blow when the GOP candidate dropped out without much of a fight.
Then again, this is why the last election was so great for the GOP, they won most of the states up for election. They are doing the same thing in other states, such as SC. It is sad that this is so partisan but it is fair play all around.
The thing that is really hard is that this effects votes like the debt ceiling, in the future. Right now we are coming close to a decision, who will win, the GOP or DNC: http://tiny.cc/47zax
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:06amWhat figures?
This is expected in a state that doesn’t limit or outright outlaw gerrymandering. If Republicans in the majority there I’d expect them to do it as well.
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:31amthe commie pieces of crap strike again. Take a look at the rust belt, chicago, michigan and the like. all pro-union, all almost completely dead economicaly.
Report Post »Libertyluvnmomma
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 8:41amMike 1969
Report Post »No Michigan is thriving in the cancer industry. the Doctors (oncologists) live in some pretty mighty er*ctions
JEANNIEMAC
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 9:34amIllinois is Obama’s state. He took control of the census as soon as he took up residence in the White House. ACORN conducted the census. Of course the elections are rigged.
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 11:57amNo worries. Illinois will be bankrupt, and the people will leave the state. By the next census, they will only have 3 seats…. Fortunately most of the libs will have starved to death by then. To all conservatives out there – learn how to survive. You will need it shortly.
Report Post »VoteBushIn12
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 4:04pmIt does figure because everyone does this. It only seems to bother Blazers when Dems do it… standard
Report Post »B_rad
Posted on July 6, 2011 at 6:56pmGerrymandering is perhaps the biggest problem with our political system, much bigger than the lack of term limits. We need set standards, agreed on by all, then fed into a computer program to kick out logical districts. When they come up with districts that make so little sense just to skew the vote, there must be some recourse. Indiana just fixed the gerrymandering that was done here years ago. Somehow we have to fix this nationally.
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