On Saturday, Illinois's Democratic-led redistricting committees unveiled a revised congressional map that aims to give their party 14 of 17 seats, up from 13 of 18 today. It's a significantly safer gerrymander than the first draft released two weeks ago and creates a new heavily Latino district on Chicago's north side. The latest proposal is expected to be passed by the legislature in the coming days with only minor changes requested by Gov. J.B. Pritzker.
This map leaves less to chance for Democrats than in the first draft. Rep. Lauren Underwood (IL-14) would pick up the blue cities of Joliet and DeKalb and get a Biden +12 district, up from Biden +2 currently and Biden +8 in the first iteration. Retiring Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos's 17th CD would move from Trump +2 under the current lines and Biden +6 in the first draft to Biden +9 by shedding more GOP areas north of Rockford.
This map eliminates a Republican seat by pairing GOP Reps. Adam Kinzinger (IL-16) and Darin LaHood (IL-18) in a new safely GOP 16th CD that stretches
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