South Central Reporter

In a way, it almost seems as if Republican state Rep. Blaine Wilhour (R-Effingham) thinks he is doing a service to Democrats in Springfield.

“You guys know me. I'm all about transparency and accountability and consistency, and you know I know we say a lot of things when we run for office. Promises are made, so I know that if I made an explicit promise to my voters I would want and I would expect my esteemed colleagues to remind me of my clearly stated commitments to ensure that I am being honest and consistent with those that elected me," Wilhour said.

As the debate over fair redistricting maps rages on, Republicans in Springfield are doing all they can to create what they see as a fairer process, filing a federal lawsuit earlier this month seeking to overturn maps drawn by Democrats on the grounds the party’s reliance on population estimates is “arbitrary” and “discriminatory” and violates the U.S. Constitution.

As part of the proceedings, House Republican leader Jim Durkin (R-Western Springs) and Senate Republican leader Dan McConchie (R-Hawthorn Woods) are pushing for a three-judge panel that would be responsible for creating a system they trust would be more reflective of communities and equitable to all lawmakers.

Republican leaders were spurred to action after Gov. J.B. Pritzker quickly signed off on the once-every-decade maps without Republican input after insisting as a gubernatorial candidate that he would veto any map drawn by politicians.

The suit charges Democrats relied on data from the American Community Survey rather than more specific data from the actual 2020 federal census. The suit claims the ACS estimate for 2020 undercounts Illinois’ population by nearly 42,000 people compared to the statewide figure provided by the federal census earlier in the year.

Democrats have countered by insisting their process was the only option available given the Census Bureau data typically relied on won’t be available before an end-of-June deadline this cycle, largely due to delays caused by COVID-19.

"Everybody says gerrymandering is bad, but the party in power in every state – Democrats in Illinois – resists doing anything about it, or do we have that wrong?” Wilhour said. “One way to do that would be to institute an independent non-partisan commission that would be tasked with reapportionment.”

The lawsuit names the Illinois State Board of Elections and its members as well as the state’s Democratic legislative leaders, House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch of Hillside and Senate President Don Harmon of Oak Park.