Justin L. Fowler/The State Journal-Register via AP file
Republicans took the Democrats and state election officials to court Wednesday over the new legislative maps, filing a federal lawsuit that argues the boundaries signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker are unconstitutional because they are not based on actual U.S. census population figures.
State House Republican Leader Jim Durkin of Western Springs and Senate GOP Leader Dan McConchie of Hawthorn Woods name House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch, Senate President Don Harmon, members of theirs staffs and the Illinois State Board of Elections in the suit.
“The tone-deaf Democratic party of Illinois has robbed citizens of a fair and transparent legislative map-making process, and I plan to be a conduit for Illinois citizens who demand honesty by ensuring they also have their day in court,” Durkin said in a statement.
Illinois’ Republican legislative leaders filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday seeking to overturn redistricting maps drawn by Democrats, contending the party’s reliance on population estimates is “arbitrary” and “discriminatory” and violates the U.S. Constitution.
Virtually no one in politics has any doubts Pritzker will seek a second term – only wondering when he will make it official – but the governor portrayed himself as still mulling it over. "I have not [decided to run], I’m talking to my family about that, and I promise you there will be some decision about that shortly," Pritzker told the Chicago Sun-Times.