Under its terms, the GOP would face a map intended to force it to eat the state’s overall loss of one congressional seat as per the new Census and to potentially lose a second seat downstate. The map overall is designed to leave the state with 14 Democratic congressmen and 3 Republicans, compared to a 13-5 partisan split now.
Some Democrats may have some problems with the map, too, with the district of Downers Grove Democratic Rep. Sean Casten extending miles to the east into Chicago’s Northwest Side. Similarly, Rep. Robin Kelly of Matteson, the newly elected chair of the Illinois Democratic Party, would be given a district that runs into Central Illinois. And the districts of Reps. Bill Foster of Geneva and Raja Krishnamoorthi of Schaumburg would be to the Wisconsin state line.
But Republicans are the main target.
Completely dismembered under the proposal is the district of Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Channahon, who has clashed with Donald Trump loyalists but is still a Republican. Democratic-leaning portions of his district in the Joliet area would be given to Democratic Rep. Lauren Underwood of Naperville to shore up her standing, with Republican sections annexed on to GOP-leaning districts downstate.