There are few things former President Donald Trump would like to see more than one of his fiercest critics, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL), be primaried out of office.
As it turns out, though, Illinois Democrats may be the ones to beat any Republican primary challenger to the punch, since new congressional maps have been redrawn to put the Republican into a Democratic district.
Illinois is one of a few states where Democrats completely control the redistricting process.
My full statement on the proposed congressional maps for Illinois: https://t.co/Ez4pHpykYY pic.twitter.com/EoETgR124P
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) October 15, 2021
Rep. Kinzinger had strong words about the process, claiming that the “redistricting process has been anything but transparent, which comes as no surprise to anyone.” Tellingly, he acknowledged that his time in the U.S. House of Representatives may be at an end, which has led to speculation he might run for the U.S. Senate or to be governor. With original emphasis, his statement noted also read that:
“I have proudly served six terms in the U.S. House and it has been an honor to do so. Following the release of the new congressional maps for Illinois, my team and I will spend some time looking them over and reviewing all of the options, including those outside the House.”
Dave McKinney and Tony Arnold for WBEZ Chicago have more details, including that this is a preliminary draft, though it’s gained considerable attention and condemnation all the same:
Democratic officials stressed that the plan unveiled Friday is merely a preliminary version that is expected to undergo revisions before a final vote, possibly during the final week of the legislature’s upcoming six-day fall session that begins Tuesday.
But Republicans were quick to pounce on the new partisan maps.
“Call this new Illinois map the Nancy Pelosi Protection Plan,” said Don Tracy, the chairman of the Illinois Republican Party. “It’s appalling that fair representation, keeping communities of interest together, and transparency in the mapmaking process in Illinois all had to take a back seat to the demands of national politics.”
The top House GOP leader also assailed what Democrats produced.
“In another insult to Illinois voters, Democrats drew more partisan maps to benefit their incumbent politicians and protect Nancy Pelosi’s failing majority,” Illinois Minority Leader Jim Durkin, R-Western Springs, said in a statement.
By far, the most intrigue associated with this version is the way in which the Democratic political cartographers crowded Kinzinger and Newman into the same district, which snakes from Midway Airport to LaSalle, some 85 miles away.
It includes a chunk of Republican-leaning, rural areas, and Newman was the lone Democrat to criticize the new political turf she could be handed.
“While our team continues to review the draft congressional map that was released earlier today, it is abundantly apparent that what has currently been proposed for Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District is not only retrogressive but substantially diminishes the diverse and progressive voices of Chicago’s Southwest Side and suburbs,” she said.
“I know that [the district’s] constituents will ensure their voices are heard loud and clear at these public hearings over the coming days,” Newman said.
This is an excerpt from Townhall.
Scroll down to leave a comment and share your thoughts.