Gov. Pritzker to Fight Gerrymandering with… More Gerrymandering?

Written by David E. Smith

Last week, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker raised the possibility of redrawing the state’s congressional map before the 2026 midterm elections, positioning it as a direct response to Republican-led redistricting efforts in Texas.

Pritzker, who has his eyes set on becoming the next Democratic nominee for the White House, hosted a delegation of Texas Democratic lawmakers in Illinois, offering political support and strategic coordination with fellow Democratic governor Gavin Newsom of California. Both governors condemned Texas Republicans—and President Donald Trump—for what they called attempts to “rig” the 2026 elections by redrawing district maps mid-decade.

Pritzker called the GOP’s plan “cheating” and stated that “everything is on the table” if Republicans proceed with their map overhaul.

Legal Authority and Illinois Political Landscape

Unlike many blue states hampered by independent redistricting commissions—such as California and New York—Illinois law provides flexibility for legislative-led redistricting at any time. With Democrats holding supermajorities in both chambers, Pritzker and his party could feasibly enact new maps before 2026.

Yet such changes would likely have limited impact: Illinois already has 14 Democratic seats out of 17 in Congress, following redistricting enacted in 2021 and passed under Pritzker’s administration. Electoral analysts have flagged the current map as among the most gerrymandered, with Republicans virtually locked out of competitive districts.

The Hypocrisy of Illinois’ Partisan Map

A quick glance at Illinois’ congressional map exposes the glaring hypocrisy behind Governor Pritzker’s recent rhetoric. While he rails against alleged GOP gerrymandering in Texas, Illinois itself stands as a textbook example of extreme partisan redistricting—tilted sharply in favor of Democrats. Veteran Statehouse observers have even called it the worst in the nation.

Of the state’s 17 congressional seats, only 3 are held by Republicans. This is no accident. The current legislative and congressional maps were drawn under the iron grip of Michael Madigan, the now-disgraced former House Speaker and convicted felon, with the clear intent of cementing Democratic Party control for the long haul.

Mind you, this is the same party that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion—yet, it has deliberately sidelined Republican representation to less than 18% of the congressional delegation. That’s despite the fact that, on average, over 41% of Illinois voters have cast ballots for Republican candidates at the top of the ticket since 2014.

By any fair measure, Republicans should hold six or seven seats, not three. The current imbalance undermines the legitimacy of Pritzker’s warning shots. His supposed commitment to “fair maps” is belied by the very structure of Illinois’ political landscape—one that he has defended and benefited from.

So much for the governor’s 2018 campaign pledge to support “compact, contiguous, and fair” districts. His recent threats ring hollow when viewed against the gerrymandered map he worked on and signed as governor.

Political Risks and Internal Tensions

Even within the Democratic Party, some voices are uneasy about this approach. Critics warn that retaliatory gerrymandering risks deepening public cynicism and further eroding trust in the fairness of elections. Besides, with Republicans already marginalized in Illinois, attempting to push them out even further would not only be difficult but likely unpopular with independent voters who still value democracy, which by definition is competitive.

Bottom Line

Governor Pritzker’s threat to redraw congressional districts is not only politically calculated but also deeply dishonest. Illinois is already notorious for “The Chicago Way”—a phrase synonymous with entrenched political manipulation. This kind of partisan power play only reinforces the perception of machine-style politics that most voters claim to reject.

If Democrats proceed under the banner of “fairness,” they may well face backlash—not just from Republicans, but from independents and moderates who see through the spin.

All elected officials—including Governor Pritzker—would do well to heed the wisdom of Scripture, which unequivocally condemns cheating and double standards. Proverbs 11:1 declares,

“Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but an accurate weight is His delight.”

This principle is echoed in Proverbs 20:23:

“Diverse weights are an abomination to the Lord, And dishonest scales are not good.”

When officials manipulate election maps for political gain, they betray the public trust and undermine both representative government and the integrity of the electoral process.

He who walks with integrity walks securely,
But he who perverts his ways will become known.
Proverbs 10:9