South Central Reporter

Jason Plummer, Illinois State Senator for District 55, said that after the current state flag won the Secretary of State's contest for citizens to choose a new flag, Democrats could "focus on more important things." He made this statement in a Facebook post on March 6.

"Haha...excellent," said Plummer, according to Facebook. "Now, maybe Springfield Democrats can focus on more important things. What a waste of time and money by unserious people."

In 2023, the Illinois General Assembly established the Illinois Flag Commission to explore new designs for the state flag and evaluate whether the current flag should be redesigned. According to the Illinois Flag Commission website, the state received over 4,800 entries in the redesign contest, with voting concluding on February 14.

Screenshot of State Senator Jason Plummer's March 6 Facebook post | State Senator Jason Plummer's Facebook page

Plummer’s Facebook post referenced a report from WCIA News detailing the outcome of the state flag redesign contest. The current state flag received 165,000 votes, or 43% of all votes cast during the five-week voting period. In total, 385,000 votes were cast for options including the current state flag, ten new designs, and two former flag designs. The initiative began with Senate Bill 1818 in 2023.

Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias issued a news release on March 6 announcing the results. Giannoulias said that while some may refer to the current state flag as an SOB (a seal on a bedsheet) and despite disapproval from the vexillological community, people in Illinois overwhelmingly prefer it. He expressed gratitude to those who voted and emphasized that the state flag is an important symbol of pride. The release also provided a breakdown of votes for each option considered.

Plummer has served as State Senator for the 54th Senate District since his election in 2018. As Senator, he focuses on representing Southern Illinois as a strong and independent conservative voice for those he believes have been neglected by politicians in Springfield.