WATCH: Map debate, case against Texas Democrats continues in Illinois

By Jim Talamonti | The Center Square
The Center Square

(The Center Square) – An Illinois Republican lawmaker says a judge’s ruling this week did not end the case against Texas House Democrats who fled to Illinois.

Illinois state Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, joined a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton against 33 Texas House Democrats who absconded from the state to stop legislative proceedings by avoiding a quorum. The move prevented a vote on new congressional maps during a special legislative session.

The suit asked that the Texas Democrats be held in contempt, which would have allowed for them to be arrested in Illinois and returned to their home state.

Adams County Judge Scott Larson ruled that the plaintiffs had failed to present a legal basis for the court to obtain subject-matter jurisdiction.

According to Tracy, the case is not over.

“We are interpreting it as being a ruling solely on our petition for emergency relief, immediate relief, and we consider our primary petition still pending,” Tracy told The Center Square.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker said Texas’ special session shouldn’t focus on new maps to favor Republicans, but should focus on flood relief.

“Look, it’s just proof that this is all about cheating, right? This was a special session that was called in Texas with the purpose of providing relief for flood victims and the families of people who died,” Pritzker said.

Pritzker’s remarks followed his comments Wednesday that Texas Republicans are cheating by redistricting halfway into a decade.

“They’re only doing that for one reason, because they’re licking the boots of the President of the United States, who asked them to break the rules and deliver to him seats that he’s ineligible for,” Pritzker said.

Illinois Republicans have pointed out what they call the governor’s hypocrisy by his stance on political maps.

The current Illinois congressional maps Pritzker signed into law for Illinois in 2021 received a grade of “F” by Princeton’s Gerrymandering Project.

Illinois U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, represents a district Republicans said was gerrymandered. Budzinski said no legal challenges have held up against the legislative maps in Illinois.

“Regardless of the district, the district is as it is. I’m proud to represent from Urbana-Champaign all the way down to East St. Louis and call Springfield my home. I stay focused on the issues that matter within the district I was elected to,” Budzinski told The Center Square.

Pritzker said Illinois would house and protect Texas Democrats as long as they wanted to stay.

Tracy said the Texas lawmakers might go home when Texas Gov. Greg Abbott calls another special session.

“That’s been our goal all along. They have official business to take care of, and they need to perform their official duties,” Tracy said.

Tracy said this is the reason she wanted to be local counsel in the case.

“From my perspective as an elected official myself, you’ve got to abide by your oath and show up,” Tracy added.

Tracy said that Paxton could announce the next step in the case on Friday.

Bethany Blankley and Greg Bishop contributed to this story.