Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives
Previous Post: Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo changes plea to guilty in bribery case
Next Post: Question of the day
Posted in:
* Earlier this year Hannah Meisel noted this in a story about a lawsuit filed against the legislative redistricting plan passed in May…
Of the four districts identified in the lawsuit, three of them saw minor adjustments to their proposed borders under the new district maps Democrats published Monday, compared with the maps passed in May. That includes the 1st House District, which State Rep. Aarón Ortiz (D-Chicago) has represented since 2019 and will continue to represent under the new map, despite the changed territory.
The slight change to the first district does not affect its neighbor to the south, the 22nd House District, represented by freshman State Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago). Guerrero-Cuellar, who was appointed to the House seat vacated by longtime former House Speaker Mike Madigan in February, recently filed an unusual motion in the MALDEF suit asking to be added to the list of defendants, along with Democratic leaders.
In the filing, Guerrero-Cuellar said she was asking the court on behalf of her constituents as she wanted to prevent any sort of settlement of surrounding districts that may affect her own. According to internal data, the new 22nd District’s population is nearly 63% voting age residents of Hispanic origin — the third-most largest share in the new proposed map.
“The Representative of the 22nd District has a significant interest in maintaining the current configuration of the map to protect her constituents’ rights to a fair and reasonable opportunity to elect candidates of their choice and avoid dilution of Latino/a/x votes,” Guerrero-Cuellar’s attorneys wrote.
Guerrero-Cuellar is represented in the matter by the Del Galdo Law Group, whose namesake Michael Del Galdo has long been close with Madigan.
* As we’ve discussed, Rep. Guerrero-Cuellar along with help from 13th Ward Ald. Marty Quinn attempted to round up enough votes to stop the congressional remap bill from passing. It didn’t work, but she complained during debate about how her own House district was drawn…
The lone Democratic “no” vote came from Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, who was appointed to the 22nd state legislative district in Chicago to replace former House Speaker Michael Madigan, who resigned earlier this year.
Guerrero-Cuellar said on the floor that she remained upset about how the 22nd District was reshaped during the legislative redistricting process in August.
“And there was something done to that district intentionally to exclude Latinos and that representation,” she said. “So when someone tells me, ‘Hey, we’re here to represent the Latinos on the southwest side,’ I’m gonna say, hold on. That was not the case.”
…Adding… I mean, AGC voted twice for this district, so I’m not quite sure what her beef is…
Here's what former House Speaker Mike Madigan's 22nd House District (now repped by @RepAGC) looked like under the 2011 maps vs what it looks like under the 2021 remap (both what passed in May and August. Also the same in other draft maps I can find, though can't access them all). https://t.co/6bhHQWM4jE pic.twitter.com/EaR9YrjliD
— Hannah Meisel (@hannahmeisel) November 3, 2021
* The map passed in May was tossed out, but a new one was drawn and then signed into law in September. Rep. Guerrero-Cuellar has now filed another motion to intervene…
A Democratic member of the Illinois House has filed a motion in federal court to intervene as a separate defendant in a pair of lawsuits challenging the legislative redistricting plan that was signed into law in September.
Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar, who represents the largely Latino 22nd District on Chicago’s southwest side, is arguing that the composition of her district, and therefore her chances of reelection, could hang in the balance if the court decides to alter the map. […]
“The [Republican lawsuit] explicitly proposes a revised September map that cuts through the 22nd District,” the motion states, referring to one alternative map portrayed in the GOP complaint.
The motion also states that Guerrero-Cuellar has a right to intervene, “to protect her right to reelection.”
She also claims in the filing that her interests “are not adequately represented” by the other defendants.
Man. The lengths these folks will go to protect the sacred boundaries of the 22nd House District is quite something to behold.
I mean, I get it that over the decades they have put a whole lot of time and effort into constituent services and developing relationships with the residents (which produce major benefits come election time). It’s the same argument used by Ald. Quinn with legislators last week against the bill which divided his ward into two congressional districts. It’s just that… wow.
…Adding… Remember this from September?…
A Hispanic candidate who lost a 2016 House Democratic primary to then-Speaker Michael Madigan is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on a case that alleges Madigan planted two sham candidates with Hispanic-sounding names on the ballot to confuse voters and ensure his victory.
In an appeal to the high court filed Thursday, Jason Gonzales argues that lower court judges incorrectly tossed the matter on grounds that voters knew about the alleged sham candidates from pre-primary publicity and Madigan still won with 65% of the vote.
I’ve been meaning to tell you that the United States Supreme Court refused to take Gonzales’ appeal this week. He doesn’t give up easily, either.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 2:37 pm
Sorry, comments are closed at this time.
Previous Post: Former state Rep. Luis Arroyo changes plea to guilty in bribery case
Next Post: Question of the day
WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.
powered by WordPress.
=== “to protect her right to reelection.” ===
I missed this “right” in all my government and political science classes.
Then again, rights seem to be popping up all over the place.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 2:47 pm
Where is it written that any elected official has a right to reelection? Oh that’s right, it’s not.
Comment by Manchester Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 2:50 pm
=== The motion also states that Guerrero-Cuellar has a right to intervene, “to protect her right to reelection.”===
This is utterly and embarrassingly… pathetic.
If the remap had a provision that stated someone can’t get signatures and run as an incumbent or challenger… I missed that.
Not one right is being violated to the opportunity to get enough signatures and be on a ballot to win a seat.
It’s frivolous, actually.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 2:52 pm
===Where is it written that any elected official has a right to reelection?===
I mean, she wasn’t even elected. lol
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 2:53 pm
=== I mean, she wasn’t even elected.===
“It’s critical that my insider status to get appointed and then keep the seat, as long as I want, and it’s being ruined by democracy, and that’s not right”
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 2:55 pm
The legalese here to the “law-yering” makes Tony Peraica look like Clarence Darrow while representing Gonzo, lol
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:03 pm
My own district has been significantly redrawn twice. I have also been part of five congressional districts. Winning over some new people. Creating some new allies. That’s our joy and privilege.
Comment by Walker Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:04 pm
===Man. The lengths these folks will go to protect the sacred boundaries of the 22nd House District is quite something to behold.
The Precious is the 22nd
Comment by ArchPundit Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:06 pm
It’s so much sturm and drang that they must have something important at stake. Since nothing they’ve articulated meets that standard, or really makes any sense, it inevitably leads to some gears turning.
It’s often been noted that a disproportionate share of the district’s population is public employees and retirees. I think it follows naturally to assume “constituent service” has a broader definition there than in other parts of the state. It’s not just tree-trimming, garbage pickup, and FOID cards; it’s your annual income.
The question then is “how broad are we talking?” There might be some services that other representatives are unable, or unwilling, to provide. If that’s the case, a new map could produce some angry folks with stories to tell.
Comment by vern Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:09 pm
Rep. Guerrero-Cuellar’s September-enacted district has identical boundaries to her June-enacted district. Not similar, identical.
June: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1Rs-85ic7W0nBZ2QPiXsGIazZicynzIco&ll=39.79510521942542%2C-89.50414500000001&z=7
September: https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1L7I2r4gat9nRWx9wfaizpn7XkA7i1qL4&ll=39.79510521942542%2C-89.50414500000001&z=7
Comment by Shield Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:22 pm
= The lengths these folks will go to protect the sacred boundaries of the 22nd House District is quite something to behold.=
Isn’t that the same thing Chuy demanded for his new 4th Congressional District map?
Comment by Southsider Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:27 pm
===Isn’t that the same thing===
Um, no. He wanted his district changed.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:29 pm
Let’s not forget that she was the runner up appointment behind this guy: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/chicago-politics/madigans-replacement-resigns-days-after-taking-former-speakers-house-seat/2446142/
Comment by twowaystreet Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 3:31 pm
Rich is spot on re AGC’s “Right to re-election.” Is this the best advice she was given by her handlers? She was appointed….this is pretty embarrassing.
Comment by The Swede Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 5:18 pm
I agree with Walker… the 40th District 2010 compared to the 2021 May Map and then compared to the September Map the boundaries have significantly changed. The numbers are the numbers. The lines need to move.. and like I said before on the house floor it is not “your”, “Mine” , “Hers” seat. The seat & map belongs to the 40th district voters. look it is what it is…populations shift..
The new 40th House district has 29,704 new people, of which 23,489 are of voting age. I got a lot of doors to knock…
So like Walker said:
winning over some new people..
Creating some new allies…
That is our joy and privilege
Comment by Andrade Wednesday, Nov 3, 21 @ 5:43 pm