Representative Adam Kinzinger listens during a business meeting of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. Photo: Sarah Silbiger/Bloomberg via Getty Images
The Illinois general assembly voted for a new congressional map in their fall veto session, setting up some political showdowns in next year's primary.
Why it matters: The Democrat-controlled state legislature redrew the lines to potentially take away two seats from Republicans.
- The new maps were approved at the last minute early Friday morning after months of behind-the-scenes negotiations.
What we're watching: Republican Adam Kinzinger's district was combined with Republican Darin LaHood's district. Kinzinger announced he is not seeking reelection, but didn't rule out running for higher office. He's been rumored to run for Illinois governor, senate and even president.
- Republican Darin LaHood announced his run for reelection in the newly redrawn 16th district.
State of play: The GOP will lose another seat downstate. Incumbent representatives Mike Bost and Mary Miller will have to duke it out in the June Primary.
The intrigue: Republican representative Rodney Davis' downstate district is still intact, but Democrats drew his home address out of his district.
- By election law, you don't have to live in the congressional district you run in, but this will give an advantage to Democratic challenger Nikki Budzinski.
- Davis has yet to say if he's running for reelection. He has been rumored as a candidate for governor.
Yes, but: Democrats didn't come out of the remap process unscathed. The state legislature redrew the 3rd and 4th districts, pitting incumbents Rep Marie Newman and Rep Jesus "Chuy" Garcia against each other.
- Representative Newman decided not to run against Garcia in the 4th, instead opting to take on incumbent Democrat representative Sean Casten in the 6th. The new 6th district includes parts of the Southwest Side of Chicago, where Newman is from.
- In a statement, Casten referred to Newman by saying: "I have never wanted to see friends run against friends."
- And the Democrats beefed up the 17th district, which will be an open seat now that incumbent Cheri Bustos isn't running for reelection.
What's next: Governor Pritzker has yet to say when he will sign this new map into law. If he objects, the statehouse would have to try again in January.
- The 2022 Illinois primary is June 28th.
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