* Press release…
Congressional Black Caucus PAC Chairman Rep. Gregory Meeks released the following statement joining Illinois Democrats’ support for new congressional map amid Trump-GOP election rigging scheme:
“Donald Trump and House Republicans are attacking democracy itself — scheming to rig the midterms because they know the American people reject a system that fattens billionaires pockets while families drown under the costs of healthcare, housing, and groceries.”
“With the full moral weight of the Congressional Black Caucus, we join Illinois Democrats in support of a new map and urge state lawmakers to act with the fierce urgency of now — to defend our hard-won progress, protect the integrity of our democracy, and preserve the voices of our communities.”
Discuss.
- Rahm's Parking Meter - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:02 pm:
This sadly needs to happen.
- RNUG - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:04 pm:
So the Black Caucus is willing to roll the dice and take the chance one of their districts will flip Hispanic, or possibly even GOP?
- System Reboot - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:06 pm:
I mentioned yesterday, but national Dems just don’t understand Illinois politics. Chicago is dominant, and because of the segregation that exists, causes very tribal form of politics where people will stick to their own and refuse to give up power. We saw this with the One Fair Wage campaign, outsiders coming into Springfield to tell the Black caucus what to do without having built any relationships SELDOM works out for the visiting side.
- Thomas Paine - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:06 pm:
Is that the same Congressional Black Caucus that recently blasted EMILY’S List for endorsing Juliana Stratton?
Asking for a friend.
The DCCC should focus on fixing their abysmal candidate recruitment, staff recruitment, consultant hiring, campaign strategy and communications. Instead of picking up one seat by redrawing boundaries, they could pick up 20.
No one in America can tell you what congressional Democrats stand for, what their agenda is, or how they plan to win in 2026.
I believe in strong partnerships between state and federal Democrats. I do not see the DCCC doing what it takes to win, and I do not see Illinois bending over backwards to help those who refuse to help themselves.
Democrats should have Nikki Budzinski’s running in every seat in every state.
- H-W - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:07 pm:
Wow. That didn’t take long to resolve. Not even a hint of differing interests in that statement. Well done, CBC.
- Alton Sinkhole - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:09 pm:
Well said, Thomas Paine. Echo that sentiment 1000%.
- I-55 Fanatic - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:17 pm:
Credit where credit is due, getting the swift blessing of all 14 Dems and the CBC is some decent mobilization from Jeffries.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:18 pm:
===decent mobilization from Jeffries===
Except, the CBC doesn’t vote in the Illinois legislature.
- Excitable Boy - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:21 pm:
- No one in America can tell you what congressional Democrats stand for, what their agenda is, or how they plan to win in 2026. -
That is extremely well said.
- NIU Grad - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:31 pm:
I think some people are not noticing that this is the federal Congressional Black Caucus and not the Illinois Legislative Black Caucus.
- Rich Miller - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:31 pm:
===I think some people are not noticing===
I don’t see that. Where?
- I-55 Fanatic - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:46 pm:
All fair points about how heavy handed and top-down this effort is from Jeffries and co., but I think it’s worth considering how nationalized politics has become. Tribal political traditions are weakening across the country, including in Chicago. Maybe Jeffries will be able to force the medicine down, maybe he won’t. Either way, if I’m a Dem ILGA member right now, I don’t want to be painted as someone who blocked an effort to fight back against Trump.
- Chicago Dem - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 12:57 pm:
Mt. Meeks says that Trump is attacking democracy which his push for gerrymandering in Red states and in the same breath, for the sake of Democracy, he’s pushing “with full moral weight” the Illinois black caucus to gerrymander maps in their favor in Illinois!
- 40,000 ft - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 1:02 pm:
This is what Meeks and Jeffries sounds like– “Republicans are attacking democracy itself” so we are going to attack democracy too (because our agenda is morally superior).
Bad messaging from Democrats and the reason people tune out politicians most of the time. “You robbed the bank so I can too” fails to scale well.
People like speaking bold truth to power, not the doubling down on destruction.
It’s also super ironic that the IL congressional map started this whole clown show on gerrymandering.
Texas and Indiana, and whatever other states are indulging, are crazy going down this path.
It is my hope that the conservative SCOTUS weighs in, like a freight train off the rails, on all things election related, including gerry-mandering, ballots, etc.
Enough is enough.
- Lurker - Tuesday, Oct 28, 25 @ 1:04 pm:
Isn’t Meeks from New York? So an outsider is telling Illinois what to do? I’m not sure that plays well in Chicago.
But based on Rich’s comment, it looks like I may just be confused here.