Rep. Bos: Pritzker Failed by Signing Gerrymandered Map

LAKE ZURICH - State Representative Chris Bos (R-Lake Zurich) issued the following statement in response to Governor Pritzker breaking his pledge to veto a partisan, gerrymandered redistricting map.

"Despite pledging several times to veto a partisan, gerrymandered redistricting map as both a candidate and after being elected, Governor Pritzker proved those words meant nothing today," said Bos. "Even though dozens of non-partisan advocacy groups spoke out against this gerrymandered map and pleaded for Democrats to wait until the full census data is released in August, the Governor placed partisan political control ahead of his promise for a fair and open process. The sponsor of the legislation creating this partisan map even admitted it was drawn for partisan gain, but he signed the bill anyway. He failed, and the people of Illinois deserved better than this."

In 2018, then-candidate for governor J.B. Pritzker was asked this redistricting question by Capitol Fax's Rich Miller: "This requires only a simple yes or no response: Will you pledge as governor to veto any state legislative redistricting map proposal that is in any way drafted or created by legislators, political party leaders and/or their staffs or allies? The exception, of course, would be the final official draft by LRB."

Pritzker's response was: "Yes, I will pledge to veto. We should amend the constitution to create an independent commission to draw legislative maps, but in the meantime, I would urge Democrats and Republicans to agree to an independent commission to handle creating a new legislative map. That designated body should reflect the gender, racial, and geographic diversity of the state and look to preserve the Voting Rights Act decisions to ensure racial and language minorities are fully represented in the electoral process."

In his 2018 gubernatorial candidate questionnaire in the Northwest Herald, then-candidate Pritzker stated, "...and I support ending the gerrymandering of districts to encourage more competitive elections."

The Governor again reiterated this position after his 2020 State of the State Address by promising to "veto any unfair map that gets presented to me."

More information available at https://repbos.com/2021/06/04/rep-bos-pritzker-failed-by-signing-gerrymandered-map/.