A proposal by House Democrats to amend the Illinois Constitution regarding legislative redistricting will not advance in the state Senate, following a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, according to a May 1 announcement.
The development is significant because it affects how legislative districts may be drawn in Illinois and addresses concerns about partisan gerrymandering. The halted amendment would have changed the rules for creating legislative maps, raising debate over fairness and representation.
Earlier this year, House Democrats sought to place a constitutional amendment on the November 2026 ballot that would have explicitly prioritized race over contiguousness and compactness in drawing legislative districts. The proposal, known as House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 28 (HJRCA 28), was criticized for potentially allowing highly irregular district shapes and for favoring partisan interests.
However, after the U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed that “equal protection of the laws” applies to legislative redistricting nationwide, questions arose about whether HJRCA 28’s language was consistent with federal law. In response to this national ruling, leaders in the Illinois Senate announced they would not move forward with HJRCA 28.
As a result of this decision by Senate leadership, voters will not see HJRCA 28 on their ballots in November 2026. The amendment had faced strong criticism for undermining principles such as keeping districts contiguous and compact—a standard intended to prevent oddly shaped districts designed for political advantage.
Illinois State Representative C.D. Davidsmeyer said he remains committed to changing how maps are drawn: “I will continue to fight for fair maps that allow voters to choose their leaders, rather than the current rigged system where politicians choose their voters.” Davidsmeyer was elected as a Republican representative of Illinois’ 100th House District in 2012 after replacing Jim Watson according to Ballotpedia.
The broader implications of this halt suggest ongoing debate over redistricting reform is likely to continue both within Illinois and nationally.
