Pritzker watching redistricting debate as GOP grapples with filibuster

By Greg Bishop | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – In the aftermath of Tuesday’s elections in other parts of the country, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker is staying tuned to how Illinois could impact the ongoing debate over redistricting.

California voters approved new congressional maps that Democrats hope will give their candidates an advantage in Congress. Illinois, with maps civic groups have given failing grades, could be next.

Pritzker this week said they continue to evaluate what Republican states will do.

“I have to say, we’re watching what Indiana does,” Pritzker said. “We’ve been looking at pairing with different states,” Pritzker said.

The governor doesn’t like the idea of redistricting mid cycle, just before a primary election.

“But unfortunately, Donald Trump is trying to cheat,” Pritzker said. “He thinks that redistricting mid-decade is OK so he called up and told the governor of Texas that he ought do it for him, and he went ahead and did it, that’s why California had to.”

Pritzker said “we’ll have to see what happens.”

Republicans have criticized the effort as another sign of Illinois Democrats’ efforts to squeeze out Republicans with gerrymandered maps.

After Tuesday’s elections in parts of the country where Democrats won, President Trump said the ongoing government shutdown hurt Republicans despite Democrats voting “no” to open things up.

Trump told Republicans to end the filibuster in the U.S. Senate to pass voter ID and Republican economic policies before Democrats end the filibuster and bring in their agenda.

“They’re gonna make D.C. a state and they’re going to make Puerto Rico a state, so now they pick up two states, they pick up four senators, OK? You think you have problems?” Trump said. “They’re going to do all of the things, they’re going to pick up electoral votes, and it’s going to be a very, very bad situation, and it’s done.”

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Don Tracy disagrees with ending the filibuster.

“The advantage of the filibuster is it prevents yo-yo government,” Tracy said. “The passions run hot in the House. The Senate is supposed to be a deliberative body where there is some compromise. Big stuff requires bipartisan cooperation. And the Senate is the place that can happen because of the filibuster. So I would hate, I would really hate to see the filibuster eliminated.”

Tracy potentially faces seven individuals in the March 17, 2026 primary.