 The new Senate legislative map shows major shifts in most of the
downstate Republican senators' districts, possibly pitting incumbent
against incumbent in the 2012 election.State Sen. Kyle McCarter,
R-Lebanon, was drawn out of his district in the southwest part of
the state.
"It takes out the central portion of Decatur, and it doesn't have
my home in it. So the area of my home is the 54th District, and it
has Sen. (Dave) Luechtefeld and I in the same district," said the
first-term senator.
Luechtefeld, R-Okawville, was also drawn out of his district,
which he had been in since the previous redistricting in 2000, and
into the 54th District.
"All southern Republican legislators were drawn out of their
districts. I think that tells you something," Luechtefeld said.
Luechtefeld's and McCarter's stories shared a common narrative
with most other Republican senators in this round of redistricting,
from Dave Syverson in the northern city of Rockford to Sam McCann in
southeastern Carlinville.
Chris Mooney, a professor of political science at the University
of Illinois in Springfield, said part of the reason for the changes
is population growth in the Chicago suburbs, but the majority of the
fresh ink is political gamesmanship.
"Whatever party controls the process, they can manipulate the
lines to some extent to give themselves an advantage, and one way to
do that is to put two incumbents of the same party together," Mooney
said.
The political lines in states have to be redrawn each decade to
reflect population changes highlighted by the U.S. census. Data from
the Census Bureau's 2010 canvass of residents is being used to draw
the legislative lines
The Democrats in Illinois control the map because they control
the House, Senate and governor's office. As long as Democrats can
agree on a map, Republicans have little recourse, Mooney said.
The GOP's best bet to change the map is to challenge it in court,
he said.
Senate President John Cullerton offered GOP members another way
to alter their political futures.
"This is a fair map. We're following the law. If (Senate GOP
Leader Christine) Radogno wants to offer any suggestions for change,
she can do so now or in the next week," the Chicago Democrat said.
Cullerton did not say whether he would let those changes come up
for a vote on the floor.
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Still, many predict that Thursday's map isn't the final version.
"I think this is a shocker map," said state Sen. Larry Bomke,
R-Springfield.
Bomke, who was one of the few downstate Republicans who said they
liked their new district, said he expected another, less dramatic
map, to come out soon.
One reason for a "shocker map" could be to get some GOP votes on
tough issues. It's a lot easier for a Republican to make an
uncomfortable vote and keep his or her old district than to make the
easy vote and have to start again somewhere else, Mooney said.
Republicans will need to figure out who will run where once a new
map has been adopted. Senators like McCarter and Luechtefeld might
end up running against one another -- neither said they are
considering retirement.
But there is another option.
The Illinois Constitution allows legislators to run in any part
of their previous district in the election after redistricting.
Normally, a person needs to live in their district for two years
prior to an election.
Both Luechtefeld and McCarter said they were still talking about
what action would be best.
[Illinois
Statehouse News; By ANDREW THOMASON]
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