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Politics & Government

Republicans Present Own Congressional Map in Court

GOP hopes judge will overturn maps drawn by Democrats in Springfield.

Illinois’ Republican Congressional delegation is fighting back against the map created by the Democratic majority in Springfield.

On Thursday, the GOP delegation filed a map of their own design in federal court to counter the map that diminishes Republican gains in the 2010 election. In a joint statement, GOP officials said their map version respects “both constitutional and democratic principles.”

“More importantly, this map stands in stark contrast to the contorted map passed by the Democrats, which is so gerrymandered that it can have no goal but to maximize partisan advantage by disregarding the will of Illinois voters,” the Republicans said in a joint statement. “The Fair Map specifically addresses the problems with the Democrats’ map by providing a second district for the state’s growing Latino population, creating district lines that satisfy the tests for compactness, and protecting communities of interest by keeping them wholly within individual districts.”

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Rep. Judy Biggert, a Republican who represents Lemont, saw her district carved up five different ways. Most of Lemont will find itself in the 3rd Congressional District, represented by Democrat Dan Lipinski. The 3rd District will also cover Palos Park, Orland Park, Orland Hills, Homer Glen, Romeoville, Lockport and Crest Hill.

Biggert, of Hinsdale, finds herself in the 5th Congressional District, which is currently represented by Mike Quigley, a Democrat. The district stretches into the city, which typically votes Democrat.

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Biggert spokesperson Zachary Cikanek  that Biggert does not believe the map will stand due to expected lawsuits challenging the lines and has no intention of retiring.

Following the filing of the GOP map, the joint Republican Congressional delegation said they look forward to the court hearing.

“We look forward to an impartial hearing in court that exposes the fatal flaws in the Democrats’ Illinois congressional redistricting scheme and recognizes the fact that creating fair, compact, and representative congressional districts is not only possible, but necessary,” they said.

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