* I told subscribers about this yesterday. Politico’s take…
There’s real talk now that the 2022 primary could be delayed.
Without detailed census data, Democratic leaders recognize they could face added legal challenges in drawing congressional maps. There’s already the likelihood of court fights as the legislative maps are being drawn with census estimates, instead of hard numbers still months away. Drawing congressional maps without census data would give critics even more legal hooks.
There’s also some pressure from the national Democratic Party to delay the primary to avoid legal battles. […]
Waiting for data throws a curve ball in the election process as candidates start gathering petition signatures at the beginning of September.
It’s a dilemma other states have too. Democrats across the country are particularly concerned about their slim 10-seat majority in the U.S. House, knowing that midterm elections usually don’t go well for the president’s political party.
Still, there are some positives in delaying the Illinois primary. Illinois has one of the earliest elections anywhere, so delaying it will make campaigning for the general election less grueling. Even better, candidates will be able to campaign in spring instead of winter — and in-person voting could be in warm(er) weather, too.
The national Democrats don’t want a judge drawing the Illinois congressional maps.
And while moving the primary to June does have its advantages, legislators are in Springfield until the end of May, making it much more difficult to campaign at home. And legislators with primary opponents will have to face voters shortly after making what could be controversial votes.
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 9:31 am:
And how does The NDP see this playing out with the deadlines in our constitution? Go ahead and pass a map and once the data comes out call a special session and pass an updated map? Surely, they aren’t counseling holding off on passing a map until the data is out.
- Candy Dogood - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 9:45 am:
===The national Democrats don’t want a judge drawing the Illinois congressional maps. ===
As a worse case scenario I’d sooner take the possibility of a judge than a coin flip.
===Even better, candidates will be able to campaign in spring instead of winter — and in-person voting could be in warm(er) weather, too.===
Besides jealously eyeing Iowa’s mostly square legislative map we could eye the timing for their primaries which are in June. Besides providing favorable weather conditions it would also give more time for candidates to campaign, campaigns to organize, and make for a smooth transition into the general election which would just be 5 months away.
It would have the added bonus of having the primary not be settled until the traditional end of the legislative session which could also have some interesting political effects as legislators may be more apt to vote their district than to try to match their party’s nominee’s positions on issues.
It would also mean that tough votes couldn’t be put off until after primary voters have had a say on who their nominee is going to be which is something I think is critically important in our current political landscape which has resulted in a lot of non-competitive seats being held for either party.
I am all for moving the primary date. The only draw back is that without making some special rule for the presidential candidates the state would be slating itself near last in the primary contests for President, but all together I think there are more important things for the state than trying to influence the presidential nominee.
- Pritzker's honor - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 9:50 am:
Other than 1960, 2020 was the first time, in the modern era, that a party won the White House while losing double digit seats in the House.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 9:58 am:
- Pritzker’s honor -
1) National redistricting
2) The Trump era
These days are not the past. We’re in a dark time. The “usual” isn’t the new norm.
With respect.
- Broom - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:00 am:
Candy I believe federal maps wouldn’t be subject to a commission if not passed by June 30
- Norseman - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:23 am:
Broom, ok, let’s go with the flow. Dems pass state maps to beat the deadline. Then reconvene to pass fed maps.
I suspect the GQP will use this to support their court argument about waiting for the census data to draw state maps. They may even try to argue the commission requirements apply anyway.
Do you know if there has been any discussion of Fed/State issues in previous redistricting years? I seem to recall that the Fed courts have put in Fed maps before. I believe Hastert was involved in the negotiations on that one.
- west wing - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:32 am:
To give the state some breathing room on this uncertain map process, the practical move would be to move the primary to June for this upcoming election cycle.
- Still anon - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:40 am:
When do we expect the legislature to draw the US House districts? If they wait for final census data, how many weeks/months will that take?
- Paul - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:41 am:
What would be even more newsworthy is if Dems took some action, any action, that didn’t have a selfish political calculation driving it.
- Oswego Willy - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 10:45 am:
=== took some action, any action, that didn’t have a selfish political calculation driving it.===
You just be new to politics as a whole, or a hapless partisan that heard that on FoxNews in between learning how the past election was “stolen”
- lake county democrat - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 11:05 am:
==The national Democrats don’t want a judge drawing the Illinois congressional map==
But. but…I was assured that gerrymandering doesn’t really impact elections all that much.
- Fav Human - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 2:40 pm:
Walking petitions in decent weather, please please please make it so!
- anon2 - Tuesday, May 25, 21 @ 2:44 pm:
=== took some action, any action, that didn’t have a selfish political calculation driving it.===
Are Republicans any less self-serving?