Did Jeffries Change Any Democratic Minds on Redistricting?
Flanked by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Lynwood) and Congressman Jonathan Jackson (D-Chicago), House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries speaks to reporters in Chicago Monday. (Photo: Chicago Sun-Times)
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As of late as last week, House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon said there was “no plan” to redraw Illinois’ already gerrymandered congressional maps to squeeze out another Democrat-leaning seat.
But D.C. Democrats put the screws to Illinois Dems Monday.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York met with members of the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus in Chicago Monday morning, urging Black lawmakers to overcome concerns with diluting the state’s Black-majority congressional districts to squeeze out a 15th Democratic seat.
It’s part of an ongoing arms race where leaders in red states like Texas and Missouri are redrawing their maps mid-decade and leaders in blue states like California and Virginia are each trying to gerrymander more seats ahead of the 2026 election.
Following Jeffries’ Chicago meeting, where he was flanked by Black Illinois congressional members Robin Kelly (D-Lynwood), Jonathan Jackson (D-Chicago), and Lauren Underwood (D-Naperville), we received word Jeffries would be making his way to Springfield to meet with House Speaker Chris Welch and Senate President Don Harmon.
Speaking to reporters as he meandered through the Statehouse hallway Monday afternoon, Jeffries emphasized Illinois legislators didn’t have to make the change this week.
“We’re not convinced that this is something that needs to happen in the next two to three days,” Jeffries said. “It’s something that needs to be strongly considered and we can figure out a path forward.”
When asked Monday morning, Pritzker didn’t rule out action on a new map
“I think it’s possible,” he said, speaking to reporters outside the Illinois State Board of Elections where candidates were filing their 2026 petitions. “That’s something, I think, we’re all gonna have to look at. It doesn’t have to happen during veto session. It could happen after that. But, right now, I think there’s just a lot of conversation going on.”
After their meeting, Welch issued a statement keeping the door open to a change to congressional district lines.
“What the Republicans are continuing to do across the country is unprecedented and frankly wrong. We are watching our elections be manipulated in real time by Republicans desperate to defend an agenda that raises the prices of everything, forces people to live in fear, and threatens our entire Republic,” Welch said. “I agree with Leader [Jeffries], all options must remain on the table to protect our democracy.”
The question remains, did it move the needle with reticent legislative Democrats?
The answer isn’t so clear.
Most Democrats we spoke to Monday either didn’t want to talk about the issue at all, or said that they don’t think there’s been much change in the feeling of Democrats.
“I don’t know if a single member changed their mind,” said one legislative Democrat. “This just doesn’t feel like it’s happening.”
Others seemed more open to the situation.
“If we find a way to help negate the Texas [gerrymander], without putting our incumbents at risk, I think it’s worth the conversation,” said another lawmaker.
But nobody appears to, at least publicly, have answers to how the General Assembly would handle administering the election, especially as petition filing began on Monday. Six Democrats filed in the 2nd District, ten Democrats filed in the 7th District, seven Democrats filed in the 8th District, and 13 Democrats filed in the 9th District Monday.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,” said another Democrat. “It’s early in the process, even if it doesn’t feel like it.”
