SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Governor Pritzker has signed Illinois' new congressional district maps into law, resulting in a wide range of political responses.
The maps formalize boundaries drawn to help Democrats in next year's midterm elections and it comes as Republicans are well-positioned to win control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
Democrats like the new congressional maps, saying they reflects Illinois' diversity.
However, Republicans have criticized the maps as drawn to benefit the party in power, after crafting them without public input.
"The map is undemocratic and leaves all voters without choices, undermining the very elections that are supposed to allow voters to hold officials accountable," read a statement from Change Illinois, a non-partisan organization focused on government and fair elections in Illinois.
"The culmination of the legislative and congressional remapping further exemplifies the need for redistricting to be placed in the hands of independent commissioners who have no political or personal incentives to pervert redistricting as a tool to silence people and secure power for the few."
Pritzker defended his decision regarding the newly redistricted maps.
"These maps align with the landmark Voting Rights Act and will ensure all communities are equitably represented in our congressional delegation," he said in a statement.
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