By Dave Dahl
SPRINGFIELD – Republicans in Washington are trying to navigate a new way – without control of either chamber of Congress or the White House.
When U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Taylorville) came to town to talk about redistricting, one reporter’s question was about whether Illinois Republicans should be like the anti-Trump U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Channahon) or like the people who think Joe Biden is not a legitimate president. The answer was about bipartisanship.
“And, really, bipartisanship is what Adam and I want. We want to see some bipartisan agreements. We were optimistic. Remember: Democrats were supposed to pick up how many seats in the statehouse? Ten? (They lost one.) They were supposed to pick up 15 to 25 in the U.S. House. Including mine! And I think we were about a plus-eleven or -twelve.”
While the remap could leave at least one incumbent Republican congressman high and dry, there could be some aftereffects – Davis says while a re-election to Congress is his first choice, the remap results could drive his decision of whether to run for governor instead.
Davis joined Springfield area Reps. Avery Bourne (R-Morrisonville) and Tim Butler (R-Springfield) ahead of a House Redistricting Committee hearing.
Shortly before that hearing began, leaders of the Senate Redistrictng Committee, chair State Sen. Omar Aquno (D-Chicago) and vice chair State Sen. Elgie Sims (D-Chicago) released the following statement:
“As Republicans nationwide seek to silence Black and Brown communities, Democrats in Illinois remain committed to the creation of a fair map that reflects the great diversity of our state. We have invited communities of interest across Illinois to participate in this process, including establishing an online portal that allows anyone to draw and submit their own proposed maps. Meanwhile, Republicans are presenting the public with a false choice by promoting legislation that is legally unsound. They know a bill cannot supersede the Illinois Constitution, which requires the General Assembly to undertake the redistricting process every ten years. Democrats are focused on inclusion, not legally questionable distractions.”
Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected]
