California Gov. Gavin Newsom is calling on Democrat-led states like Illinois to redraw their congressional maps ahead of the 2026 election cycle—a move critics say could undermine public trust and harm minority representation. The push comes amid growing national pressure among Democrats to counter Republican redistricting efforts in states like Texas and Indiana.
Speaking during his Proposition 50 victory speech, Newsom didn’t hold back. “We need our friends in New York, Illinois, and Colorado,” he said. “We need to see other states… meet this moment head on and recognize what we’re up against in 2026.”
In Illinois, that message isn’t landing well with election watchdogs. Ryan Tolley, executive director of CHANGE Illinois, a nonpartisan voting rights group, warned that Illinois already has “highly partisan gerrymandered” maps and that any attempt to redraw them now could weaken Black voter influence.
“For Illinois, the challenge is that our maps are already heavily drawn to favor one party,” Tolley said. “Redrawing them now would likely come at the expense of Black voting power in Cook County and Chicago.”
He also noted that mid-decade redistricting is unusual and typically only triggered by lawsuits or federal mandates—such as those under the Voting Rights Act. With the U.S. Supreme Court now reviewing Section 2 of the Act, the law’s future remains uncertain.
Tolley also cautioned that further gerrymandering, even for political gain, could backfire. “If Illinois starts redrawing maps to offset what’s happening in Indiana, it could just escalate partisan remapping across the country,” he said. “That may be what national Democrats want, but it won’t restore public trust.”
Instead, Tolley called on Illinois lawmakers to pursue reforms like passing a state-level Voting Rights Act or establishing an independent redistricting commission. These steps, he said, would help protect communities from being carved up for political advantage and ensure minority representation is not sacrificed.
With election cycles approaching and legal battles mounting, the debate over redistricting is far from over—and Illinois may soon be the next major battleground.
