Kane County Reporter

Patrice Bertheau, Vice Chairman of the Geneva Township Republicans, criticized Illinois Democrats for gerrymandering, despite Texas Democrats fleeing to Illinois. Bertheau expressed her views to the Kane County Reporter.

"Texas Democrats have fled their state to dodge a Republican-led redistricting vote, landing in Illinois to protest ‘gerrymandering' while ignoring the blatant voter suppression happening right here," said Bertheau. "Illinois, under Governor J.B. Pritzker's Democratic supermajority, is the nation's worst offender for rigged maps, silencing nearly half of our voters. It's time for Geneva Republicans to demand fairness and fight back against this one-party tyranny. Geneva GOP stands for fairness, representation, and Republican values."

According to The Wall Street Journal, Texas Democrats left their state to avoid a redistricting vote, taking refuge in Illinois, which itself is known for significant gerrymandering. In 2021, Illinois lawmakers approved a congressional map that Princeton rated poorly for partisan bias and geographic design. Governor JB Pritzker signed this map into law despite previously pledging support for an independent redistricting commission. Although Pritzker's staff assisted Texas lawmakers with logistics during their stay in Illinois, he declined to cover their expenses or fines. The state has previously hosted similar protests from Indiana and Wisconsin lawmakers.

The Princeton Gerrymandering Project's latest report gave Illinois's 2021 congressional map an 'F' grade due to a Democratic incumbent advantage and poor competitiveness compared to other potential maps.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Governor Pritzker suggested that Democratic-led states like Illinois might respond with their own redistricting efforts if Texas Republicans proceed with plans to redraw legislative maps favoring GOP congressional seats. Speaking on July 25 alongside visiting Texas Democrats, Pritzker warned that changes in one state could prompt reactions in others, including Illinois. His comments faced criticism from Illinois Republicans who accused him of hypocrisy given his approval of heavily gerrymandered maps in 2021 that benefited Democrats. Pritzker dismissed these claims, stating all options remain open.

Bertheau serves as Vice Chairman of the Geneva Township Republicans and is focused on increasing Republican voter turnout and membership while communicating the party’s positions on key issues for Geneva Township voters.